Budding Alex soccer stars head off to Italy

Alex boys from Royal Tigers SC are excited about their soccer trip to Italy and have vowed to make the township and province proud by putting up a five-star performance during their games in the Italian City of Reggio Emilia.

July 17, 2023

Sipho Siso 2 minutes read

Alex Royal Tigers player Masego Mathabe says it still hasn't dawned on him that he will be going overseas. Photo: Sipho Siso

Three budding soccer players from Alex Royal Tigers SC have been selected to join a squad of U17 footballers who will represent Gauteng in the TriColor Games in Italy from July 24 to 30.

The soccer squad will be part of 132 young athletes from across the Gauteng province, aged 16 and under, that will form Team Gauteng from various sporting codes such as chess, football, rugby, basketball, swimming and athletics. They will join more than
1 000 other athletes from more than 20 countries at the games that will be hosted in the city of Reggio Emilia.

Primrose High School shot put and javelin ace Kopano Matlhaloe. Photo: Sipho Siso

The Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation gave Team Gauteng a resounding send-off on July 15 at a ceremony that was billed to be attended by the Premier Panyaza Lesufi.

The Premier and the MEC for Sport Morakane Mosupyoe could not make it due to other commitments.

Alex Royal Tigers SC player Simphiwe Bongwana says he hopes to overcome his nervousness about flying. Photo: Sipho Siso

The 7th edition of the games, themed ‘Sports can change people and people can change the world’, will be the second time the province is sending a team to participate in the games which are held every four years.

This year’s Team Gauteng is made up of athletes selected from last year’s OR Tambo/Soncini Social Cohesion Games with a few more players selected by their respective federations.

Alex Royal Tigers player Simanga Nkosi says he is nervous as this is his first time out of the country and in a plane. Photo: Sipho Siso.

Speaking in an interview with Alex News, Masego Mathabe (16), a Grade 10 learner and soccer player at Sandringham High School who plays both left and rightwing attacking positions, said he was chosen following rigorous trials.

“It still hasn’t dawned on me that I will be going overseas for football coming from Alexandra but I will do my best to represent my club, Alexandra, Gauteng and all the people of South Africa.”

Steve Tshwete Secondary School learner and 400 metres runner Thulisile Tshofuti. Photo: Sipho Siso

Simanga Nkosi (16), a Grade 11 Alex High School learner who plays right back and had a stint with Rangers and Highlands Park before moving to Tigers, described his trip to Italy as a ‘dream come true’. “I am nervous as this is my first time out of the country and in a plane but hope to eventually overcome that condition.”

Simphiwe Bongwana (16), a Grade 10 learner from Alex High, promised to put his best footballing foot forward in the games. “I may be nervous about flying for the first time but can assure you we’re going there to win.”