Woodline informal settlement residents held their first soccer tournament from 18 to 19 November “to forge unity in the community”.
The tournament was held at Plastic View Sports and 10 teams participated – eight senior teams and two junior teams.
Coordinators Trevor Zvenyika, Silas Bani and Mariuz Meerholz said the tournament was aimed at uniting the community.
“Just because we live in the plastic houses, it does not mean there is no talent [here],” said Bani.
“Since the tournament started, we have seen a lot of players who have talent and can even play better that the professional players we see on television.
Scouts should come and attend our tournaments to search players.”
Woodline was formerly known as Plastic View.
The tournament will be held quarterly, according to Zvenyika.
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“The soccer tournament is huge as hundreds of residents, including women and children, came to support their loved ones,” said Meerholz.
“This tournament is meant to motivate and further develop talent. It also brings unity in a settlement where the demographic is Zimbabwean, Mozambican, Basotho, Malawian and South African.”
The teams’ soccer kits were sponsored by No Limits Clothing, Nikon, EventFin, Weavind Attorneys, Waste Plan, SSM Food Brands, Chempure and anonymous sponsors.
Prizes were handed out at the end of the tournament.
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Liverpool beat Chiefs 4-3 on penalties to win senior division, while third place went to Highlanders, who beat Vodacom, 2-0 in the losers’ final.
Lion Cubs beat Leopard Cubs 1-0 to be crowned junior division champions.
Super Goal Maize Meal sponsored the participants with food and cold drinks for about 300 people.
Zvenyika said they were planning a bigger tournament next time in which they hoped other township soccer clubs would participate.
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