Team Badimo Babolo won the inaugural Premier’s Cup Diski Tournament which took place at Fiddler’s Green, as part of the National Arts Festival programme.
Badimo Babolo, made up of Sakhulutsha Academy members, remained unbeaten throughout the tournament. Although they were 1-0 down against Attackers at half-time during the final, they came back to equalize during the second half. The match then went on to penalty kicks. While teams did not have dedicated goal-keepers, the player-keeper was not allowed to stop the ball with his hands. Thus making it difficult during the penalty kicks. However, the Badimo Babolo keeper made a spectacular head clearance to help his side win the final.
The tournament began on Sunday with a coaching clinic hosted by Chippa United soccer team management and the Department of Sport, Recreation, Arts and Culture (DSRAC), with assistance from Makana Local Football Association (MLFA) clubs.
The five-a-side tournament started on Monday with round robin matches. These continued until Wednesday, with the play-off matches (quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals) taking place yesterday.
Eastern Cape MEC for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture, Pemmy Majodina watched a number of the matches during the week, as well as the final match yesterday. She then presented teams with medals and soccer balls.
In the quarter-finals, Badimo Babolo beat Grahamstown United 2nds 2-0, Future Stars beat Josa Cosmos 3-0, XI Attackers beat Sakhulutsha 2-0 and Corronation beat Tigers 5-4.In the semi’s, Badimo Babolo beat Coronation 2-1 and XI Attackers beat Future Stars 1-0.
The event was organised in collaboration with MLFA and Makana Local Municipality in an attempt to create an amateur tournament involving as many members of the community as possible and fostering a culture of recreational sport as a platform to bring people together.
Included in the tournament rules were that all teams had to have a player under the age of 16, as well as one player over the age of 35. Teams were split into three groups and points were awarded for wins and draws. The top teams from each group progressed to the quarter-finals.
During the round robin games, Badimo Babolo, XI Attackers, Tigers and Future Stars all remained unbeaten, with Attackers winning all their games. Tigers, Badimo Babolo and Future Stars each had two draws.
See the Festival Diski tournament results here:
http://www.grocotts.co.za/2017/07/07/festival-diski-results/
