Beach soccer league arrives in Durban
The CEO of the Pro Beach Soccer League, Zweli Sapula said beach soccer differs from a usual soccer game.
WITH the move to a nationwide level 1 lockdown, the Pro Beach Soccer was able to officially kick off the Durban South Beach at the weekend.
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The CEO of the Pro Beach Soccer League, Zweli Sapula said beach soccer differs from a usual soccer game. It is played on sand and, because of this, the number of players on each side only equates to five.
“When playing, the number of substitutes that get to play seven. The rules of the game are a bit different, as is the excitement that comes with it. The entertainment is part of the game,” he said.
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He said Pro Beach Soccer SA is an organisation responsible for organising the Professional Beach Soccer League, and was officially formed in 2016 also comprises of South Africans who run the directorship of the company with the highest form of ethics guided by the good business principles.
Sapula said this sport is played barefoot and, because of this, athletes have to be agile.
“The players need to be fit and to be quick, because everything happens in a very short time,” he added.
Sapula said there is a lot of interest in beach soccer.
“We are doing it in Durban and people are loving it,” he said.
Speaking to the Berea Mail, beach soccer coach, Philani Gumede said this was the first time the Pro Beach Soccer League, was held in South Africa.
“We had some sponsors that came on board and the games have also been supported by the Department of Sports and Recreation as well as DSTV. These games will end next year on March 9,” he said.
He went on to say that the league was also a first for the African continent.
“From this league, there will be scouts looking for players who will represent the national team,” he said.
He said there are 12 teams signed up for the league and there are currently two in this league, where there is a first round and a second round.
Gumede said this team is five- a-side. There are four players on the ‘field,’ and one on goals.
Gumede said the league was looking for ways to bring live games to different digital platforms.
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