Organisation hosts soccer tournament to keep children busy
Onkabetse Day Care Centre, a non-profit organisation based in Vosloorus, hosted the Onkabetse Day Care Centre Soccer Tournament for u-11s at the Vosloorus Stadium.
The two-day tournament where 16 teams from Vosloorus and Spruitview participated started on July 14 with the semi-finals and finals on July 15.
Delivering her speech to the young soccer stars who blessed the tournament with their talent, Mpho Mazamane, the founder of the organisation, said the tournament was held with the aim of celebrating Mandela Day.
“This is a build up to Mandela Day. At the same time, it is our way of giving back to the community of Vosloorus during Mandela Month as our organisation is run by the money that we receive from private donors. Most of them are from the township,” said Mazamane. “We wanted to do this so that we could keep you off the streets while schools are closed.
“The organisation, in partnership with the Vosloorus Local Football Association (VLFA) and local teams, want you to return to school safe,” Mazamane said.
In conclusion, Mazamane assured the young stars that this is not the last tournament they will host this year as an organisation.
“We will host another tournament in December. So this tournament marks the beginning of a good working relationship between us and all the stakeholders who were involved in making this tournament a success. I would like to thank them all,” concludes Mazamane.
According to Jabu Nkosi, the chairperson of VLFA, the tournament was a success.
“Considering that we never have u-11 teams in our league, having 16 u-11 teams turning out for this tournament means a lot. It opened our eyes as VLFA to pay attention to u-11s, not only to the u-13s. We have to give them a chance to prove themselves,” said Nkosi.
He said he was very pleased with the kind of football the teams displayed on the day.
“Having players nick-named ‘Messi’ really means there is a talent,” concludes Nkosi.
In the first semi-final, Alaska FC lost 2-1 to Spruitview 11 FC while in the second semi-final TK Stars locked horns with Rangers FC. TK Stars won the game 4-0.
TK Stars lost 5-4 on penalties to a nine-men Spruitview 11 FC after the game ended in a 0-0 draw.
Alaska FC finished third after defeating Rangers FC 4-2 in the third and fourth place game.
