The Alex Mall five-a-side pitch was the venue for the third instalment of the annual Play for Education initiative of Alexandra Gunners FC.
The one-day family orientated event which seeks to raise funds to build a Coding Computer Training Centre in Alexandra, is the brainchild of one of the oldest clubs in the township. The tournament also aims at helping the club’s senior team, now in the SAB League, realise its long-standing dream of playing professional football in the prestigious Absa Premiership.
According to the club’s media liaison officer Stanley Makhubela, 24 teams participated in what he described as the biggest event of the three-year-old initiative and all competed in the hope of bagging the grand prize of R6 500 on offer.
Teams came from all over Johannesburg including areas such as Westbury, Turfontein and Reiger Park and comprised well-known five-a-side champion teams such as Orlando Pirates, Flava, Scorpions and Dark Cloud.
Makhubela said the tournament, which was staged on 13 October, was forced to be played over two days due to the inclement weather after its group stages had been completed, with the knockout stages and the final played on 16 October.
“I was gratified by the understanding displayed by the teams when the heavy downpour of 13 October forced the organisers to seek another day to complete the unfinished business,” Makhubela said.
The eight teams for the knockout stages included Scorpions, Dark Cloud, Galaxy, Beast, Nono Stars, Young Ones, Flava and Dallas, with Scorpions and Galaxy making it to the final which eventually saw the Scorpions being crowned champions after stinging Galaxy 3–0.
Alex resident and Orlando Pirates player Mpho Makola and his former counterpart at Kaizer Chiefs, Mandla Masango, were the guests of honour who assisted in handing out the medals of the event that was supported by the Parktown-based 100 per cent African women-owned company, Liyema Consulting.
“We’re still looking for sponsors and partners wishing to partner with us and hold our hands as we endeavour to walk this long journey for education and the beautiful game,” Makhubela said.
Details: jsmakhubela@gmail.com; www.alexandragunnersfc.co.za.
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