Local NPO launches female football tournament
The newly established NPO calls on the community to assist with funding to help these passionate young football players have access to more opportunities.
Etimar Football Foundation launched its first football tournament on September 9 as part of its objective to foster participation in organised football.
The Horison-based NPO is under the leadership of Thandi Tesfagiogis, who is the chairperson of the football club and cited that football activations, specifically female football, are a need in their area and coaches for U13 to U17 teams.
“Today the U13 and U15 junior teams are playing as part of the first leg in a series of football tournaments. The first game kicked off this morning [September 9]. The seniors were also supposed to play today but it has been postponed as they are receiving matric support during the exam period,” Thandi explained.
“We are an NPO trying to activate female soccer in the area from Horizon to Roodekrans and we are trying to get more girls involved,” she continued.
Etimar teams are registered with Rand Central Local Football Association which is a member of the South African Football Association Johannesburg’s governing football body within its area in making sure that there’s a promotion of structured football through the development of players, coaches, referees, and administrators.
“We are part of the association and play around Randburg. The challenge however is funding. Nobody knows us,” Thandi cited.
Although they are renting ground space from schools, some of the players come from Soweto and other townships, and according to Rand Central rules, they need a ground within the Rand Central demarcation, but negotiations are underway.
The team trains at Westridge High School on various days, with league games on Sundays, and at Ridgevale Primary School on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Tuesdays, depending on available grounds.
Some noteworthy achievements from the Etimar team were that of Khanyisa Mthembi, who plays U17, U18 and first team – also playing against males older than her.
“I began playing soccer at the age of six as I was surrounded by my three brothers who taught me how to play soccer. I played for 10 years for Westridge High and now joined the Etimar club. They saw my potential and said they wanted me to play with U17 and U18 boys,” Khanyisa said.
Botshelo Nowacha plays for U15 girls and U17 boys and is a striker who has managed to score 18 goals in three months. Jasmine Ngixi plays U15 and has been with Etimar for four months now and is the assistant goal-scorer and said that she is excited to see where her soccer journey takes her.
Aliyah Sallie plays central defender for the U15 girls’ team and said that playing for the last three months and being with all her teammates have encouraged her to push for her dreams.
Most of these girls cited that their love for soccer started as a hobby but would not mind playing in bigger leagues.
