Top African teams head for Gauteng
JOBURG - Football teams from the Africa have always brought their own sense of flair to the Future Champions Gauteng International Tournament and this year there will be four more sides hoping to become the first African winners of the event.
Football teams from Africa have always brought their own sense of flair to the Future Champions Gauteng International Tournament, and this year there will be four more sides hoping to become the first African winners of the event.
The tournament takes place at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto, from 23 to 28 March. Returning for a record seventh time will be Zambia’s K-Stars who have featured in every event since the inception of the project in 2009.
They reached the semi-finals in 2011 and 2012, and have always been popular participants. The club is owned by Zambian legend Kalusha Bwalya and has a reputation for producing top talent in the country.
Appearing for the first time will be Ghanaian side Asante Kotoko, who are considered the top side in the football powerhouse of this West African nation. They have won the Ghana domestic league championship a record 24 times and the African Champions League twice, and are also a powerhouse of the region.
Stars such as Harrison Afful, Samuel Inkoom and Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, as well as legends Samuel Kuffour and Tony Yeboah are among their former players. It is almost certain that future Ghana international players will be on view with this team. They will be the second team from that country to compete in the tournament, after Nania FC in 2012.
Coming for the first time from Mozambique will be Ferroviario de Maputo, who are a team with a rich 90-year history and have eight Mozambican championships to their name. Their list of former players includes Mozambique internationals Danito Cuta, Paulito, and former Portugal star Alberto Costa Pereira who went on to have a stellar career with giants Benfica. The team is based in Maputo and will be the first side from the country to compete in the tournament.
Adding spice to this year’s tournament will also be Oryx Football Club, a Namibia team made up of some of the best players from the southern African nation. It will be the first time a team from South Africa’s neighbour has entered the event, but of course, there have long been close football ties between the two countries. There are many Namibian players who have featured in South Africa’s Premier Soccer League and the country continues to produce top talent for the region.
