Barcelona tournament to be launched

Sunday will see the launch of the Barcelona Annual Tournament taking place at Mapetla Grounds.

It is scheduled for 1pm and participating teams are invited for the draw of this soccer showpiece.

Tournament organiser, Doctor Moloi said they are inviting all representatives of the tournament including the police, schools governing body, coaches and the community at large.

The tourney caters for the U9, U11, U13, U15, U17 and U20 and will start on December 10, taking place in different soccer fields in Chiawelo, Mapetla and Phiri. According to Moloi, the tournament has grown to be bigger than before.

More than 100 teams take part in this competition and it has grown to attract teams from Duduza, Vaal, KwaZulu Natal and Mafikeng.

Moloi said fans should expect a great deal of entertaining football throughout the entire tourney.

He said this tournament decreases crime in the area during the festive season and keeps children away from loitering.

The competition will be running for the ninth year.

It started with only four teams playing in one division but now with more than 100 teams taking part, it has become one of the biggest soccer events in Soweto.

The tournament started in 2005 by Moloi to eliminate crime and loitering and to educate youth through sport.

Its aims and objectives include uniting the community and promote soccer from grassroots to professional level.