Football skills at Germiston Stadium

The South African Football Association (SAFA) Ekurhuleni, in partnership with the Ekurhuleni Metro, handed over football kit, trophies and medals to 13 football teams, at the Germiston Stadium, on Saturday.

The teams will participate in the newly launched SAFA Ekurhuleni u-15 Regional League.

Football kits are among the things that aspiring football teams at a development level are set to benefit from the partnership.

This is just one of the many initiatives that SAFA Ekurhuleni intends to embark on.

The Regional League is the first phase on which SAFA Ekurhuleni will focus; other projects that will be unveiled by the region in future.

“The decision to embark on this programme is informed by the shared strategic objective between the metro and SAFA Ekurhuleni, to implement sport and recreation programmes in communities and schools,” explained SAFA Ekurhuleni’s regional executive officer, Job Mchunu.

“One of the critical lessons we (as a country) have learnt, as hosts of the 2010 FIFA World Cup was the importance of developing our young players and coaches, a model that has been proved in many big leagues across the world,” explained SAFA Ekurhuleni’s Regional Executive Officer, Job Mchunu.

Among those present, at the hand-over ceremony, was the Ekurhuleni Municipality Director of Sport and Recreation, Atwell Sijadu and SAFA Gauteng executive member, Mzwakhe Mashinini.

“This project forms part of Vision 2022, which is qualifying for the World Cup in Qatar,” said Sijadu.

“The people that will solve some of our problems within our national teams are seated among us in this room.”

Sijadu was referring to the young football players being honoured, he also emphasized that this is subject to the quality of coaching these players will receive and are exposed to.

“We need to get the foundation right in order for football development to flourish, once the basics of football have been concretised and not focusing on the results at an early stage, individual brilliance will prevail unhindered,” explained Sijadu.

Mashinini applauded SAFA Ekurhuleni for initiating such a project, which is a first of its kind in Gauteng.

He also appealed that the league be sustained if the intention is to bear fruits in future.

“These children must not be lost in the system or fall through the cracks.”

“Teams should form relations with other teams campaigning in higher divisions so that there is continuity in their development,” added Mashinini.

The day was finalised by the Super League Play-Off final between Vosloorus Arsenal FC and Tembisa Sport Centre.

The finalists will be campaigning in the SAFA Ekurhuleni SAB League, so the final was a ceremonial event to decide the actual winners of the play-offs.

Soccer fans and supporters of the hand-over of football kits witnessed fine soccer skills as both teams proved why they were in the final and promoted to the SAB League.

A goal in the first half by Vosloorus caused for more action as the shots on target increased from both sides.

Coming back into the second half the leading team extended their lead by another goal.

Towards the end of the match, the Tembisa-based boys scored a goal, which had spectators wonder whether it was due to the injury sustained by Vosloorus’ goalkeeper in the second half.

The match was won by Vosloorus Arsenal beating their opponents 2 – 1.