It’s that time again for the much-anticipated finals of the 18 edition of the Maimane Alfred Phiri Games which will be held at the Alexandra Stadium on 22 July.
The Games kicked off on 26 May with the juniors of the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association fighting it out in the four age groups – U13, U15, U17, and U20 – to be crowned champions of the ‘Alex World Cup’ champions.
Alex Royal Tigers won both the U13 and U15 age groups with Malandela Mighty Heroes taking the U17 crown while Blue Birds FC was crowned champions of the U20 division in the finals which were held on Youth Day, 16 June.
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The games then moved on to the senior ladies that saw 16 teams including Manzini Wanderers from eSwatini fight it out. The semi-finals of the ladies section will be staged on 21 July at the Alexandra Stadium, alongside the second legs of the semi-finals of the men section. The first legs of the men semi-finals were held at the Rotary Grounds on 15 July.
Netball also got its platform on 9 June where 20 teams competed in the one-day tournament with JNC successfully defending their title.
The senior men’s category started with 40 teams at the dusty Rotary Grounds on 23 June which saw packed out crowds who braved the frosty weather to see the ‘ragatas’, ‘tsamayas’, ‘motos’ and ‘mrabas’ that they have been accustomed to over the years.
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Grandiose, Mighty Birds, Come Boys and Soweto Super United are the four teams in the semi-finals who will battle it out in the 2nd leg semi-finals to qualify for the finals on 22 July and be in line to pocket the R175 000 in prize money which will be up for grabs for the ultimate winner.
History will be made in this year’s edition as SuperSport will broadcast the men’s final live on 22 July, with kick off set for 5pm.
This year’s edition which is dubbed ‘the celebration of sport’ and played under the theme of ‘No to gender-based violence and no to racism’ is sponsored by MTN South Africa, the Gauteng Gambling Board and the beer on the block, Soweto Gold.
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Other partners include Africa Meter Reading, Daily Sun, Umso Construction and Engineering, Alex FM, Rand Water, Men’s Clinic International, Boston City campus and the City of Johannesburg.
Tickets will not be sold at the stadium and football lovers are advised to buy them in advance at Ngubo’s Butchery on 4th Avenue, Alexandra, opposite the Rotary Grounds.
