Byline: Refeloe Letsoisa
14 April 2026
The Tesh Foundation hosted a four-day tournament at Cheap Corner Ground in eMbalenhle.
The aim of the tournament was to honor the late Phezulu FC player, Nhlanhla Masina, popularly known as ‘Voda,’ who passed on in a car accident in February 2025. It also aimed to promote and celebrate the talent of young players in Govan Mbeki Municipality and surrounding areas.
The games commenced on Friday, 03 April 2026, and ended on Monday, 06 April 2026, with sixteen (16) teams competing.
“The Tesh Foundation management team gets to see growth in each tournament hosted, which makes us very proud and excited to continue with the initiative. Although the team shows potential and full support for the initiative, we face challenges when it gets to sponsors.
We urge that surrounding businesses support us. We are not saying they must do it forcefully, but we would love the support because this is not for any individual, but it unites the people of GMM and protects young people from substance abuse,” said Vusimuzi Mbokazi, founder and chairperson of the Tesh Foundation.
Mbokazi further thanked the support from the leadership of GMM for coming to the games and recognizing the importance of the initiative.
911 Derpotivo took the trophy home after winning 3 – 0 against Barca 2210.
Nkululeko Khumalo, 911 Derpotivo team manager (director), stated that this was their second tournament, after losing in the semi-final games at the first tournament. He further stated that the team went back to the drawing board and planned for their upcoming games.
The players of 911 Derpotivo also received gold medals and a cash prize of R35 000.00. The man of the match from the said team also received a token of appreciation, including brand new soccer boots, a soccer jersey, and more from LKG 5 Sports Everything.
“With the winnings, we prioritize the players. It is not the money that the players are focused on, but it is their careers. Some of our players are still young, so instead of giving them more money, the management would rather focus on getting them new soccer boots, gym equipment, and more. The prize will be properly spent; some of the money will be reinvested in the team while the rest will be shared amongst the players,” said Nkululeko Khumalo.
Khumalo emphasized that the management wants to dominate this football industry, as they believe that 911 Derpotivo is a big brand.
“We want to produce players for well-known teams, the likes of Phezulu FC,” he said.
Meanwhile, Barca 2210 was also awarded a cash prize of R12 000.00.
