EThekwini continue SALGA-KZN DSR Games domination

EThekwini Metro Team continued their domination of different sports codes in the Province after they once again emerged clear overall winners of the 2016 edition of the SALGA-KZN DSR Games at Margate on the south coast on 08-11 December.

The Games attracted hundreds of young people from throughout KwaZulu-Natal who represented their districts in different codes of sports and indigenous games. All but one District Municipalities, including eThekwini Metro, participated in the Games and the different teams showed a lot of enthusiasm, raising the standard of competition and discipline throughout the three days of competition.

In the final tally eThekwini managed to defend their championship title, getting 37 overall points with nine gold medals, four silvers and two bronze. They were followed by Umgungundlovu District who got 16 points with three golds, two silvers and three bronze medals. King Cetshwayo were third (13 points), Ilembe fourth (12 points) and hosts Ugu District took fifth spot (10 points).

MEC for Arts, Culture, Sport and Recreation, Bongi Sithole-Moloi applauded eThekwini for their win and praised players from other districts for their level of competitiveness, enthusiasm and discipline.

She said the Department of Sport and Recreation will continue to work closely with Municipalities in order to deliver sustainable sports development programmes at Wards around the Province.

“Over the past five years the Department has invested in excess of R35million to support these Games because we realised the potential that they have in creating opportunities for young people from different corners of this Province, starting from local and district competition up to Provincial level. And it is our intention to continue investing into this partnership with local government and sports federations. For it is only through such partnerships that we would be able to create an enabling environment for an active and winning Province,” she said.

Proteas Netball National Team Captain, Bongiwe Msomi, who was at the Games to encourage young netball players, said she was impressed with the level of competition. She was accompanied fellow Proteas star Precious Mthembu.

"From netball's side I see that there's a lot of improvement if I am to compare with the previous years. I will proudly say that the standard has gone up a bit. And that shows that players are really giving it their all,” she said.

Harry Gwala District team was crowned netball females champions after beating King Cetshwayo in the finals. Males netball was won by Umgungundlovu District.

Football males was won by uThukela with UMkhanyakude being runners up and Harry Gwala District received champions medals in the females section with uGu emerging second place.

UMzinyathi were applauded for the successful defence of the boxing title with uMkhanyakude taking runners up position.