The Makana Local Football Association hosted its Easter Soccer Tournament over the long weekend at JD Dlepu Stadium.
The tournament, aimed at bringing the community together for the love of the game, started on Good Friday and ended on Monday night with a total of 20 teams competing.
The Makana Local Football Association hosted its Easter Soccer Tournament over the long weekend at JD Dlepu Stadium.
The tournament, aimed at bringing the community together for the love of the game, started on Good Friday and ended on Monday night with a total of 20 teams competing.
Most of the teams were from Grahamstown, with one from Peddie and two others from other surrounding areas. The teams battled it out in the group stages to see who would go through to the quarter finals.
The top two teams in each group were chosen to progress to the next round through a point-counting system. The preliminary rounds started on Monday morning with the quarter finals.
Cameroon Football Club, who finished second in their group, played Pioneers in the first quarter finals on A field, while City Pirates played visiting Mzasco United in the B field.
Love and Peace, who narrowly made it behind group leaders Phoenix Pioneers, were to play local footballing giants Grocott’s Mail Eleven Attackers on A Field, while Joza Callies clashed with Santos on B Field.
Results of the quarter finals Cameroon and Pioneers finished on a 0-0 draw, with Pioneers winning 5-4 after the penalty kicks.
City Pirates beat Mzasco United 3-2, Eleven Attackers beat Love and Peace 3-1, and in the last of the quarter final matches, Joza Callis and Santos ended full time in a 0-0 draw.
Santon went through to the semis after winning the penalty shootouts 4-2. It was now down to four teams to battle it out for the gold medals and the smaller the number went, the greater the competition as the levels of performance got stronger.
The first semi finals was a clash of local giants as City Pirates took on Pioneers on A field. After several attempts from both sides, Odwa Gaxa broke the deadlock when he put Pioneers in the lead.
Pirates striker Unathi Mantolo went through to net an equalising goal three minutes later. Pioneers’ Phumlani Fulani put his side in the lead once more with a goal 19 minutes into the second half.
Pirates launched several attacks at the Pioneers side but the green and white defence gave them no chance. Pioneers were through to the finals as the game ended Pioneers 2 City Pirates 1.
The second semi was between Santos and Eleven Attackers, with the Attackers side making sure they secured their place in the finals with a 3–0 victory over the youthful Santos side who played well but lacked finishing touches.
Lindile Mrhwerhwe (captain), Siyabonga Diniso and Malibongwe Mbhebhe brought the goals for Attackers.
Local favourites Pioneers took on the Attackers, who are currently placed number five in the South African Football Association (SAFA) Cacadu Regional league, in what was the finals of the Easter tournament.
Attackers were awarded a penalty kick within one minute into the match, from a foul by Pioneers in the 18 yard area,, through which it capitalised and put the side in an early lead.
As it began to drizzle, Attackers almost stretched the lead with an attempt that went just wide off the post.
The first half saw attempts from both sides but none could change the scoreboard, as the first half ended Attackers 1–0 Pioneers.
It was 28 minutes into the second half when Attackers put another one in making it 2–0. A few attempts by Pioneers going forward seemed threatening but were stopped by the solid Attackers defence, while some shots at goal went off target.
Attackers sealed the game and secured a victory with a third goal in the middle of the second half. Eleven Attackers were therefore the official winners of the 2010 Easter Tournament.
The happy Attackers coach, Simphiwe Faxi said “It is my first time winning a gold medal with the club, so I am grateful of the results.
It was a very hard tournament throughout as other teams were all going for victory and all teams wanted to beat us but we came through.”
Advising other local teams Faxi said: “I wish City Pirates well in their regional league play offs to be played soon.
Wishing that other teams would learn from Pirates’ example and improve the level performance so we can see more Grahamstown teams in the higher league.”
The victorious Attackers took home the gold medals as well as a full kit and R3 000, while finalists Pioneers got the silver medals and R2 000.
Third placed City Pirates went home with R1 500 and a soccer ball, while Santos who were placed fourth received R1 250.
The leading goal scorer and the player of the tournament prizes both went to the newly crowned winners’ captain Lindile Mrhwerhwe who netted a total of five goals and played tremendously throughout the tournament.
It was not just victory to the players as 60-year-old soccer-lover Nkebenga Faltein won himself the best fan prize.
Faltein said “I feel very happy to have seen the boys playing soccer so lovely and to have won with them too.”
League official Chris Totobela expressed his satisfaction of this long weekend soccer festivity: “Although the weather was not perfect, it was a huge success for local footballers and fans who came
out in numbers.
Not even a single incident had been reported meaning both teams and fans played a fair game.
“Last year the tournament had a few clubs competing but this year we had a total of 20 teams playing each other, which made it more interesting.” With such a spectacular event, local football surely has regained its pride.
