Rhodes Park hosts its first ALJ soccer event

Rhodes Park in Kensington was the setting for the second annual ALJ Soccer Tournament on November 10.

The event, organised by Johannesburg-based insurance company ALJ Insurance Brokers, sought to act as a catalyst towards community development in communities faced with crippling socio-economic challenges.

This call to action invited other companies to partake in a day of organised soccer, along with residents of the local community in which the event is taking place.

Managing director at the brokerage, Anthea Fillis, said by engaging these other businesses, particularly from within the insurance sector, the hope is for the tournament to have a corporate sponsorship and fund-raising model as part of its core mandate.

Although four teams were drawn for the day’s fixtures, only two, ALJ Insurance Brokers and Cartrack, were left to battle it out for the year’s floating trophy.

The two companies put business ties aside, all be it for 90 minutes, in exchange for an exciting exhibition of sportsmanship.

In the end, Cartrack walked away 8-4 winners and secured themselves tournament bragging rights for the next 12 months in the process.

“The initial idea around the tournament was to engage business into assisting with bringing up communities,” said Fillis.

“We’re hoping that by using our voice as business, that we’re able to raise up talented soccer stars and also to engage with the greater community and youngsters, in particular.”

Brandon Spandiel at Cartrack said his organisation had a healthy track record in company-organised soccer events.

“We’ve been invited to participate because we’ve been doing well in the Discovery Soccer Park League, which we’ve won twice already,” said Spandiel on his organisation’s maiden appearance at Saturday’s event.

“This is also a growth experience for us as we get to finally meet those people, whom up until now, we’ve only dealt with telephonically.”