JOBURG SOUTH: The South African Championship of Table Soccer was held at Sacred Heart College in Observatory, Johannesburg. The recent tournament held by The South African Association of Table Soccer (SAATS) was a great success, with entrants from all around the country participating. Although Table Soccer or Foosball is an Indoor sport, it is also requires mobility, dexterity and hand-eye coordination, thus making it a highly competitive sport.
Table Soccer is perceived as a pastime game, but to many South Africans and many more Europeans, it is a sport. As a spectator you will notice that a lot of the participants have spent a lot of time perfecting the skills they used at the tournament.
The South African Association of Table Soccer is an NPO that was created to provide upliftment to the South African Youth and the underprivileged through Sport and Recreation. As for the tournament, ultimately there could only be one champion and by the end of day two, Adeel Umair (Speedys League in Fordsburg) was crowned the Singles Champion, with Ashlyn Raman (Speedys League in Fordsburg) and Naweed Khan (Premier Foosball League – Lenasia) grabbing the second and third placed positions respectively.
In the doubles category, Naweed Khan and Arshaad Mohammed of Lenasia were crowned the champions, followed by Adeel Umair and Nivash Manulal and in third place Leonard Holtshausen and Ashlyn Raman, both teams representing Speedys League in Fordsburg. The winners of League Cup held in August as well as SA Champs will represent South Africa at the World Championships in France this December.
The junior category saw a small turnout this year but that did not stop Ali Sayed of Lenasia in securing his first ever table soccer championship and qualifying for the singles category to represent South Africa in France at the World Championships. He took first place with Naushaad Dada taking the silver award and Mohammed Sayed came in third place. The Premier Foosball League in Lenasia is extremely proud of the junior trio who have just recently joined the league. Ali and his brother Mohammed have also secured their place as the junior doubles team to represent South Africa at the junior world championships in France this December.
SAATS is the governing body of foosball in South Africa in the following categories: Men’s, Women’s, Junior and Senior. To pledge a donation, join a League or for more info on our tournaments – visit their Facebook page (SATableSoccer), follow them on Twitter (@TableSoccerSA) or drop them an e-mail at info@saats.co.za
