Top football players from the various South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Arms of Service descended on Grahamstown this week for their soccer championships.
Top football players from the various South African National Defence Force (SANDF) Arms of Service descended on Grahamstown this week for their soccer championships.
The event took place at the 6 South African Battalion sports field starting on Tuesday and finishes with the finals on Friday 22 November.
Both men's and women's soccer sides the SA Army, SA Navy, SA Military Health Services and the SA Air Force are playing.
Similar annual tournaments have been hosted by the Arms of Service. For the first time it is being run by the Safa-affiliated SANDF Football Association.
The SANDF Football Championships took place in Oudtshoorn in August. At this tournament, soldiers represented their provinces and a national soccer side was selected.
President of the SANDF Football Association, Chaplain Elbie Vinqi, said while selection was not the main focus of this week's tournament, they would be on the lookout for talented players who missed out in the August tournament.
Vinqi said the national side would play against other security cluster teams and in international matches next year.
The winning team from Friday's final will receive a full kit, medals and a trophy. There will also be a number of individual awards up for grabs.
The tournament is sponsored by Old Mutual Group Schemes and Credit Solutions.
Soldiers from 6 SAI in the SA Army side are Nthabiseng Mogotsi, Lebogang Ramathoka, Nomkhosi Mnikathi, Teboho Moabelo and Rose Rankoko (women's side); Stoffel Plaatjies, Brent Jonkers and Faizel Whales (men's side).
