BY SIPHOSETHU MABUZA
MANZINI– A field can be more than a place for competition; sometimes, it becomes a meeting point for a whole community.
The Scalisa Foundation is bringing sport and culture together as its charity tournament continues this week, with prizes up for grabs and a strong cultural element to the programme.
Founded by Senator Tony Sibandze, the foundation has built its community work around supporting people in need, including elderly and vulnerable members of society. Its involvement in community sport has also seen it support activities aimed at creating opportunities for local residents.
Scalisa Foundation has also been involved in supporting sport in Mpolonjeni. Earlier this year, the foundation supported a football tournament and rehabilitated sports grounds and access roads ahead of matches in the area.
This weekend’s tournament therefore brings together two sides of community life that do not always share the same stage sport and culture. Yesterday’s competitions set the stage for what is expected to be a bigger cultural moment on Saturday, when Lutsango, soccer and netball finals take centre stage at Mpolonjeni Inkhundla.
The finals will bring together the competing Lutsango, soccer and netball groups after their earlier performances, with the focus shifting towards the final showdown as participants seek to impress through dancing, singing, traditional attire and coordinated performances.
For the community, however, the occasion is about more than the competition itself. Lutsango events provide a space where people can gather, celebrate culture and support participants representing their communities.
The foundation’s decision to combine the sporting tournament with cultural activities also gives the weekend a wider community focus, bringing together entertainment, competition and social interaction under one programme.
With the road to the Lutsango finals now reaching its final stop, attention turns to Saturday and the groups that will take to the stage at Mpolonjeni.
For Scalisa Foundation, the tournament and cultural programme form part of a broader effort to keep community activities at the centre of its work, while giving participants a platform to compete, connect and showcase their talents.
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(Courtesy Pic)
