Mkhondo community enjoys PG Bison’s festival of sports and family fun
PG Bison’s annual Fam-Fest (formerly known as the Knockout Cup) took place in Mkhondo on 6 and 7 April 2024, bringing together families, neighbouring communities and children of all ages for a weekend of sportsmanship, play and camaraderie.
In opening the event and welcoming community members, Neeshan Sankar, Board Plant Operations Manager at PG Bison Mkhondo, expressed his excitement about being part of the event. He spoke about the memories it evoked of his younger days in competitive sports and wished all the participating teams well.
Netball winners
Taking the first prize for netball – the golden cup and winning cheque of R10 000 – for the second year in a row was Mlilo Comprehensive School, coached by teacher Sthembiso Ndlovu. “Our winning formula is simple: we train hard; we are determined, dedicated, and we love what we are doing,” he said. “Our next big focus is to take our performance to the next level. We are so grateful to a company as great as PG Bison that puts people ahead of themselves.”
Nqubeko Secondary School came in second in the netball event taking away R8 000 for their school, and in third place was Amadlelo Aluhlaza Secondary School winning R5 000 cash prize.
The netball Player of the Tournament award went to Sinakhokonke Nyayo, who said, “This tournament means a lot to us, and PG Bison’s involvement makes us happy, builds us up and encourages us to keep working hard. Thank you so much, PG Bison for all that you do for us.”
Soccer stars
The winning soccer team, which also took away a cash prize of R10 000 and the golden cup, was the Khumalo Stars Football Club whose Team Captain Sandile Dlamini said, “This festival is not just about soccer and netball but all the children of our community who are all noticed by PG Bison. We are always encouraged to participate as training keeps us off the streets. Please continue to support us, PG Bison, and maybe one day this could lead to bigger opportunities, like appearing on TV, playing professionally.”
Two For Joy Football Club placed second and won R8 000, while Amapanstula Football Club and First Touch United Football Club drew for third place taking away R2 500 each.
Guest perspectives
In attendance was a representative from the Yende Royal family, David Lushaba, who said, “Over the past three years PG Bison has made great strides in bringing the company closer to the community of Mkhondo, making changes in people’s lives and supporting the children of Mkhondo.”
Mkhondo Local Football Association General Secretary Ntokozo Simelane, who is also the Gert Sibande Municipality Sports, Arts and Culture Manager, added, “The kids must continue training and participating in the tournaments, but most of all they must have fun. PG Bison has made a huge impact in this tournament and their work has not gone unnoticed.”
Showcasing our care for the communities in which we operate is a key objective of this memorable event, where our commitment to continuous development through supporting sports and educational projects is enabled through a fun day for the whole family.