Maimane Phiri urges the community to come in numbers to support young talent
ALEXANDRA – We must give more attention and support to it if we are serious about the future of the sport.
The battle lines have been drawn in the junior divisions of the 19th edition of the annual Maimane Alfred Phiri Games (Map Games) tournament set to kick off on 25 May and finish on 16 June.
This was after an official draw of the 16 teams that will participate in the junior division was recently held at the Alex Mall, with the who’s who of Alex football gracing the occasion.
Speaking to Alex News on the side lines after the draw, the founder of the tournament and former Bafana Bafana midfield maestro and founder of the games Maimane Phiri, described the junior division as the most important part of the tournament, saying it should be given priority and more support.
“This is the most crucial division because that is where development happens and where stars of the future are made, including national team players, myself included,” he said.
“We must give more attention and support to this division if we are serious about development and the future of the sport. We call on parents and the community at large to come in numbers to watch these kids playing.”
He thanked the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association for its support from the very beginning of the tournament way back in 2001.
“The support from the local football association for the past 18 years has been amazing. They have been with us and supporting us from the very beginning until today. Our working relationship has grown from strength to strength and we are hoping this will last forever.”
The secretary general of the association Mafika Morajane put his seal of approval on the tournament that he said had grown by leaps and bounds over the years to become what is now casually referred to as the World Cup of Alexandra.
He lauded Phiri and the tournament’s local organising committee for their efforts in developing soccer in the area, one of whose many products included Kaizer Chief star striker Lebogang Manyama, who’s also an ambassador of the games.
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