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Chiefs' Mthembu gives back

Cape Town - Kaizer Chiefs striker Siphelele Mthembu says he hopes his annual tournament will result in players being identified by Premier Soccer League or National First Division teams.

Read: Chiefs make Komphela move

Mthembu was reflecting on the tournament he hosted over the weekend in Melmoth North, KwaZulu-Natal, in partnership with the Mthonjaneni Municipality.

Coach Roger Sikhakhane, who is reportedly returning to Chippa United, was also part of the event.

Mthembu told Fooball411: "I'm looking forward to the future of the tournament, to create an environment where players can go play in the PSL.

"Eighty percent of the players are under-23, but we are not stopping those who are older than 23 to play. However, the majority has to be young players.

"We will be happy to see one or two players get contracts from NFD or PSL or Vodacom League (teams) coming from our tournament.

"We are looking to expand the tournament to places like Dundee and Ladysmith to reach other parts of the province for players to get recognised.

"I believe they are the future and it should not only be Siphelele Mthembu or Roger Sikhakhane.

"We want to produce others who will be greater than us. The main goal is to build the legacy of the youth, to show support and care. We are looking for sponsors to come on board next year," he added.

This year's tournament consisted of 16 teams, eight local while the rest hailed from Eshowe, Ulundi and Richards Bay.

All 16 teams were competing for the first-place price of R20 000, while the runners-up pocketed R10 000, and Mthembu added that he personally "contributed R6 000 for special awards like Man of the Match, who walked away with R1 000”.

He continued: "The goalkeeper of the tournament got R1 000 and the Young Player of the Tournament got R700. The leading goal scorer took home R1 300 and the player of the tournament walked away with R1 500."

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