Richards Bay soccer tournament organisers seek sponsors

LOCAL football club Bay United FC is gearing up to host a soccer tournament to honour soccer legend and coach Keith Abrahams.

The tournament is set to take place from 1 to 3 October at the uMhlathuze Sport Complex in Richards Bay.

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The three-day showcase will see soccer clubs and teams from across the region converge on Richards Bay, with local teams playing on the Friday followed by visitors’ fixtures on the Saturday and Sunday.

According to host coach Milton Smith of Bay United FC, the focus of the tournament is to see the community’s youth engage and participate in sporting activities, create awareness and ignite a passion within the youth for sports, and create a platform for them to showcase their talent.

As Smith and Abrahams are long-time friends and both involved in the soccer fraternity, Keith was recently invited to Richards Bay to host soccer clinics and share his wealth of experience and knowledge.

‘Keith is doing an amazing job with the youth in the Pietermaritzburg area and communities of Northdale, Woodlands and surrounds, and has been making massive strides in grassroots development.

‘We want to honour his sporting contributions through this tournament.

‘Teaming up with coach Leonard Andrews who plays a big role in the Richards Bay Junior League and the development structures, we are uniting to host this event and to see opportunities open for all our soccer youngsters,’ said Smith.

Having been involved in professional soccer from the age of 16 and ending his goalkeeping career at 39 after playing for teams like Amazulu and

Maritzburg United, Abrahams’ passion for the game has not waned.

At the age of 61 he is still playing soccer for the over 60 squad, and is involved in coaching.
He is excited about the upcoming tournament, and said he has seen immense talent and skill by players at his soccer clinics in Richards Bay.

‘I have been involved in development soccer for many years, and at the age of 16 I was coaching youngsters. I was the youngest manager and team owner in the league.

‘Through the Woodlander Technicals Grassroots project, we used the Woodlander venue and grew the development team from 42 to 450 children.

‘We also had all the parents and former players become certified coaches. We want to see the same development take place in Richards Bay.

‘We hope that through this event we will revive and reignite the soccer passion, and seek to expose the talent from this area,’ said Abrahams.
Milton Smith can be contacted on 072 2847111.