Festive sign-off for Lidz ladies

KNYSNA NEWS - The ladies of Lidz FC capped off 2019 with the club's first-ever Player Awards Gala ceremony on Thursday 5 December, naming a Top XI for the year at the awards.

Lidz FC was started in 2017 by Lindiswa "Lidz" Zitshu, as a way to grow the sport of women's football in Plettenberg Bay and KwaNokothula specifically.

The same year of their founding they finished third on the league log, with the club growing to an extent that by the following year they had both a senior and junior team, and now boast more than 30 players.

Photo gallery: Lidz FC gala ceremony

This year would be no less successful for the club, as they were named the runners-up in Eden by finishing second in the Safa Eden Women's Regional League, one point shy of the winners. The club also does not have any main sponsors, and if the club is in need of any funding they have to rely solely on donations according to Zitshu, who plays for the club while also doubling as a manager and coach.

Zitshu pointed out that hey had to end off their fantastic year the right way, and that was through holding an awards ceremony that rewarded the players for their immense hard work throughout the year. It was the club's first Player Awards Gala ceremony, which was attended by players and their parents as well as delegates from various organisations. The club's coaching and managerial staff handed out various awards on the evening including the naming of the club's Top XI for the season, and five main individual awards.

Siphumeze Thuthiwe was named the breakthrough player of the season, Bongiwe Ngwatyu the most improved player, Xoliswa Scara Thomas the top goal scorer, Noscelo Scibha Yisaka the players' player of the season, and lastly Mandisa Junior Madlala was named the player of the season.

Lidz FC's Top XI with coach Samkelo Jacobs after the prizegiving. Photos: Blake Linder