Ezama Grootman’s tournament gets men fit in Maporo
Magugu Aces left four teams defeated during the much loved tournament.
It was survival of the fittest during the popular Ezama Grootman Football Challenge on Sunday July 23. The football tournament was hosted by the Ma-Gistro Foundation at the Maporo Sports Ground in Ngodini. The tournament attracted various communities from KaNyamazane and Kohlakalo.
Ma-Gistro FC, Umndeni FC, Maporo FC and Magugu Aces participated in these three friendly matches.
In the first game, Maporo faced Umndeni. Umndeni won with 1-0. In the second match, Ma-Gistro played against Magugu, with Magugu leading with 2-0.
In the finals, Umndeni battled it out against Magugu and beat Umndeni 2-1.
According to a representative of the foundation, Mubria Dladla, the initiative aimed to create a place in which men will be able to socialise while getting fit, and to encourage elderly men to unify and support one another with challenges they face in their households.
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“As a way to make the tournament fun, we contribute the funds donated towards food for the players and the spectators after the games. We aim to make sure that the men are entertained and stay active. This initiative gives the community something to look forward to over the weekend. We encourage the men to participate in our activities so they can encourage young people who are interested in soccer to be inspired when they see their fathers doing their part on the sports field,” he said.
Dladla said the games have inspired other communities to start their own football clubs. They also make use of the Maporo Sports Field. He said the new teams encourage unity in communities.
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“The challenges we are facing is the lack of sponsorship, which would help us to afford a soccer kit.
“Our players do not have proper soccer boots, and we would like to be able to continue serving food for the spectators after the matches. We depend on the little contributions we can collect among ourselves in the organisation,” Dladla said.
