Times Of Swaziland: INSTACASH/ESSA KO DRAW, KITS OUT

INSTACASH/ESSA KO DRAW, KITS OUT
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Chris Dlamini on 26/05/2023 08:42:00


MBABANE - The top 16 schools in the inaugural cash-spinning Instacash Schools
Soccer Tournament have started reaping the sponsor's benefits.
In an event held at the mobile money company at Swazi Plaza in the capital city,
the schools under the banner of Eswatini Schools Sports Association (ESSA) were
all represented as their draw was conducted before they were presented
Instacash-branded kits. This is part of the E350 000 sponsorship package. ESSA
Executive Committee, including President Anthony Mdluli were also present. "As
Instacash we are pleased to associate with schools and development. We are happy
the games have come this far and we'll today present kits to the excelling
branch champions.
"We also thank the schools for the support and we will continue our partnership
even next year. Let’s also say it that only schools with our accounts will
qualify to play," Instacash Managing Director (MD) Mandla 'Cheeks' Nxumalo.His
remarks were met with a huge round of applause by the teachers and pupils from
the various schools who will start the fight to the semis next Tuesday until
Friday.
ESSA President Mdluli said they were also grateful to have Instacash as he
encouraged a continuation of violence-free games. He encouraged fair play, good
conduct and support from other head teachers by releasing pupils to the games
despite not making it to this stage. He also emphasised on the usage of the
branded kits throughout the Instacash Under-17 games. Eswatini Sport and
Recreation Council (ESRC) representative in Communications Officer Dumsani
Ntiwane, said they were also against violence but vouched for partners like
giants as big as big as Instacash who promote their goal of mass participation.
The draw was then conducted by ESSA Secretary Felicity Dlamini who explained at
least two schools will be drawn out of their region to be the fourth team in the
four groups of four. Two streams in A and B were drawn. Stream A has groups A
and B (Lubombo and Manzini) while Stream B has groups C and D (Hhohho and
Shiselweni). The schools will be listed at the end of the article but the
champions after the finals expected next week, will pocket E20 000, runners-up
get E10 000 while it will be E5 000 for third place.
Worth noting is Hluthi had been drawn to join Hhohho but were able to negotiate
with Eric Rosenberg who preferred travelling to play Mpofu High School.
Furthermore, Manzini Central High School whose principal is renowned former
Mbabane Highlanders Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Celucolo 'Dino'  Dlamini are
back in the tournament after opening the most Instacash accounts than any other
participating school, over 400. They had lost to neighbours Malunge High and
were interestingly drawn against the other in the quarter-finals draw. Malunge
had won the Manzini branch tie 10-9 after sudden death penalties following a
1-all draw in regular time. After these games, group A winners will meet group B
winners to determine finalist while group C winner takes on group victors.