Soccer tournament brings together communities
Mpheroane said reviving the love of sports in communities will help bring back humanity and unite South Africans
A soccer tournament comprising four teams was held at the sports grounds of Shukumani Primary School and saw Mamelodi-based Mamelodi Pirates FC displaying exceptional football techniques in their fight for the Kgabo Mpheroane Spring Games title.
Mamelodi Pirates FC thrashed local boys Track and Trace (TNT) FC 1-0 in the final game of the tournament.
To advance. to the finals, Mamelodi Pirates FC played against Tembisa Pirates FC. The match was a 1-1 draw but the game led to penalties and ended 3-0 in favour of Mamelodi Pirates.
Mamelodi Pirates were rewarded with R1 000 cash, a trophy and gold medals while the second runners-up TNT FC were rewarded R500 cash and silver medals.
Mamelodi Pirates coach Khaya Mokgolo, said it was the first time that his team was hosted in Tembisa and he would love to play more games in the township.”My players showed an outstanding performance throughout the tournament and I am extremely impressed because they responded very well to other teams and faced the challenge,” added Mokgolo.
Meanwhile the organiser of the tournament, Kgabo Mpheroane, said the purpose of the tournament was to bring together football teams of Tembisa and nearby areas.
“I love soccer and I always have. I am really passionate about Tembisa Township and I would like to see it grow in football to put us on the map,” added Mpheroane. He said the primary objective of the tournament was to find talented players.
“I’ve got a good relationship with some football professionals who are willing to help me expose a talented player in the area. I am planning to arrange the tournament every year so it will accommodate more soccer teams from faraway places and the township,” explains Mpheroane.
Mpheroane said reviving the love of sports in communities will help bring back humanity and unite South Africans.
“We shouldn’t be strangers in other townships or fear to visit. We should feel free and know that wherever we go brothers and sisters will show us love and support if something bad happens. I see this type of tournament changing people’s perceptions about other areas. Some people just hear notorious stories about other areas and start to hate the area without visiting and learning about it first. Through sports, we can all fix the negative behaviour that fuels these flames of distrust around people,” added Mpheroane.
