KOUGA Municipality is all geared up for the annual Kouga Mayor’s Cup Tournament set to take the region by storm this April – a highlight on the municipality’s sporting calendar.
Building on the success of 2022, this year’s Mayor’s Cup is set to break barriers.
With a total combined prize money of R260 000 the number of sporting codes that entered for this year’s event increased from 16 to 24.
“We are extremely excited that we have been able to include more sporting codes this year,” said Hendricks.
“The eight new sporting codes to battle it out are pool, volleyball, gaming/coding/ drone soccer, sport for the disabled, peddle boarding, swimming, dominoes/cards, and basketball.
“The tournament will, furthermore, once again see the region’s top netball, rugby, soccer, cricket, golf, and tennis players compete for top honours. Add to the mix fishing, touch rugby, gymnastics, bowls, running, darts, boxing, chess, surfing and skateboarding.”
He said that a highlight of the tournament is the first ever drone soccer tournament for the Eastern Cape, while the winners of the coding competition will have the opportunity to compete against top players from Kenya – taking the Mayor’s Cup international.
Hendricks said the aim of the tournament – themed Breaking Barriers – was to facilitate sports development and encourage participation among people from all walks of life.
“It is more than just a golf tournament. It is a journey of development.
“As former president Nelson Mandela reflected, and I quote: Sport has the power to change the world. It has the power to inspire. It has the power to unite people in a way that little else does. It speaks to youth in a language they understand.”
According to him, a total of 90 players will take to the greens during the Mayor’s Cup Golf Day at St Francis Links on April 13, while the final matches are scheduled to take place on April 22.
The matches will take place at different venues across the region, to allow as many community members as possible the opportunity to participate and support the programme.
The prizegiving for all sporting codes that compete will take place on April 26.
“I would like to thank all the sports associations and clubs for joining the municipality to present the Kouga Mayor’s Cup – and helping to grow the tournament,” said Hendricks.
“Let us show up and show off what wonderful sporting talent Kouga has to offer.”
For more information, contact Kouga Special Programmes co-ordinator and acting chief of staff, Elvina Felix, at elvina@kouga.gov.za.
– ISSUED BY KOUGA MUNICIPALITY
