Mighty Heroes may not defend Mandela Cup

This follows what tournament founder, a former police captain, John Maluleke, described as ‘outstanding loose ends’ that still needed to be ironed out with the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association before teams affiliated to the association can participate.

He was speaking in an interview with Alex News just before the local organising committee conducted the draw of the various associations that will be participating in the regional tournament leading up to the finals on 16 July at the University of Johannesburg’s APB Sports Complex in Auckland Park.

What normally happens is that participating local football associations hold their own Mandela Day Cup tournaments from which they select the teams of various age divisions to represent them in the regional tournament. Such a local tournament has not been held in Alexandra this year and hence the association will not be participating.

“We still have a few loose ends that we need to stitch together with the Alex association and hence they will not be part of the tournament this year,” said Maluleke, without wanting to elaborate further.

Secretary general of the Alex association, Mafika Morajane said he was not aware of the commencement of the tournament in which Mighty Heroes represented the township last year in the regional games although they failed to reach the finals.

Speaking at the draw and unveiling of the new trophy. Maluleke said the regional knockout stages would kick off on 2 July and would involve teams from the U13, U15 and U17 divisions from the Bosmont, Rand Central, Soweto’s Orlando East, Vosloorus, Johannesburg Inner City and the Cloverdene local football associations. Two teams of gogos will also be taking part in the final, namely the #Gogos from the Inner City and the Gogos FC from Ivory Park.