Competitive players revive ‘outdoor football’

The members are competitive local footballers, whose league affiliation could serve as a springboard to players wanting to make the jump to consistent, constructive local league football.

Benoni resident Imtiyaaz Essop formed the RFC Local League, with two professional venues with state-of-the-art facilities and a complement of 10 teams, whose season started in mid-February and runs through the winter season.

Essop, who will serve as the team’s coach and as a player, said he hopes to field a team made up of off-season professional soccer players from the local leagues, as well as players from local tertiary institutions.

He added that he wants the public to identify with the local league.

Ahmed Sarang serves as the team’s general manager and as a player.

RFC play out of the Boksburg City Stadium.

“Attendance and revenues are the main challenge for RFC”, Sarang said.

”But, the support is there; there is a real keen interest in outdoor soccer here.”

Other local competitive footballers boosting this enterprise are the experienced Mohsin Daya, Danzil Moonsamy, Waahid Ally, Zain Jogee, Irfaan Khan, Shiraz Ismail and Moosa Valley, while veterans Ahmed Paruk and Muhammed “Molzo” Rawat have also brought in their support, both on and off the playing pitch.

Local young talent, such as Rameez Faki, Wasim Mia, Adil Sarang and Waseem Saber, also seem to crave the vibe and competitiveness brought about by Essop’s latest venture.

With an official website, all competing teams have access to fixtures, results, highest goal-scorers and even disciplinary records.

Supporters who are unable to travel to games can also follow their local teams and players, with updates to the website done timeously and comprising of a full HD gallery.

For more information about the league visit the website: www.rynsoordfootballclub.com