Schools tournament takes root
ALEXANDRA - The second edition of the Sibusiso 'Cosmos' Zwane Tournament of the Johannesburg East District Schools Football Cup was launched at the No 3 Square Grounds in Alexandra.
The second edition of the Sibusiso ‘Cosmos’ Zwane Tournament of the Johannesburg East District Schools Football Cup was launched at No 3 Square Grounds in Alexandra.
A total of 16 schools from around Joburg will do battle for the trophy and these include Alex born Sibusiso ‘Cosmos’ Zwane’s former school, Minerva Secondary School.
Others taking part in the tournament will include Alex High, Barnato Park High, Eastbank High, Eastridge High, Highlands North Boys High, KwaBhekilang High, Leap School, defending champions Liberty Community High, Northview High, Pholosho Junior Secondary, Realogile High, Sagewood High, Sandringham High, Sandtonview High and Wendywood High.
The games will be played every Wednesday and Friday, with two games on each day starting on 5 August, with the final of the tournament scheduled for 11 September at No 3 Square Grounds, the venue for all the games.
Besides growing the number of participating schools from six to 16, a new element to the tournament has been added this year in the form of netball games.
Tournament organiser and chairman of the Johannesburg East District Schools Football Committee, Percy Ndaba, said it was difficult to divorce football from netball, as the two games go hand-in-hand in the schools.
He said each school playing on the day will have to organise their netball team to take part in the tournament and the games will be played simultaneously, with the girls coming to cheer their boys once their tournament is over as their games tend to finish earlier.
Each boys-only high school has been teamed up with a girls-only secondary school.
“The beauty of this tournament is that it has no age restriction. You can be 27 years old and if you are doing your matric at that particular school, then you are eligible to participate,” Ndaba said.
Finalists in both netball and soccer will be awarded medals and sports kits, with the champions in both sporting codes being awarded floating trophies.
Zwane, a former football star of Jomo Cosmos in his heyday, assured the participating schools that his ambition was to grow the tournament and provide various lucrative recognition awards.
“I can only do that with sponsors on my side and I am working hard to find willing partners who share the same vision as I have for the development of school football and netball,” Zwane said.
Details: Sibusiso ‘Cosmos’ Zwane 079 999 3869; 072 955 7010.
