Ithembalethu wins the fourth edition of Bonaero Park 74 Football tourney
The fourth annual Bonaero Park 74 Football Tournament saw the Tembisa-based Ithembalethu FC of under/9 crowned the overall campions of the tournament after beating the Italian-Olympia FC based in Berdforview 1-0 in a final match of the tournament.
Soccer players from the East Rand showed off their skills on the football field during the Bonaero Park 74 Football Tournament on March 17.
The fourth annual Bonaero Park 74 Football Tournament saw Tembisa-based Ithembalethu FC’s u-9s crowned the overall champions after beating the Italian-Olympia FC, which is based in Bedfordview, 1-0 in the final match of the tournament.
About seven football teams took part in the Bonaero Park 74 Football Tournament, which was hosted at Bonaero Sports Grounds in Kempton Park.
Ithambalethu FC founder and coach Boitumelo Mahlanyane the club was excited to be part of such a great initiative.
“We will continue to register for soccer teams of u-8 and u-9 with the Eastern Local Football Association (ELFA) in the 2018 season. We want to build long-term partnerships with various football teams, football associations and Ekurhuleni.
“We believe that sport is one of the greatest equalisers in the world. Ithembalethu Sports Development Centre was founded on this basis. Ithembalethu means ‘our hope’ in the Nguni languages of South Africa. It was founded to bring hope to our community,” said Mahlanyane.
She emphasised that they want to bring hope to previously disadvantaged children in particular and in turn see these children become the hope of the community.
Ithembalethu Sports Development Centre is a registered non-profit organisation founded to unearth sporting talent in the community.
“The main objective of the organisation is to provide sporting opportunities and access to facilities for children from Tembisa. In addition to this, we aim to develop sporting talent at grassroots level while developing leadership and good life skills – establishing values of accountability and responsibility while instilling pride and the ability to dream and pursue their goals in life,” said Mahlanyane.
The founders are mostly from Tembisa.
“Having grown up in the area, we have seen the lack of sporting facilities, the loss of talent due to the lack of opportunities and the lack of development in sports at an early age. Ithembalethu seeks to change this by providing sports facilities, opportunities to compete with other children in the relevant age groups and exposure to tournaments by forming developmental teams from young ages as seven years,” added Mahlanyane.
She added their vision is to make a difference by changing someone’s life and building stronger communities through sports.
“We hope to see these children succeeding in life and contributing to their communities. Our values are respect and we attach a high sense of value to ourselves and to others. We treat others with honour, care and courtesy. “Excellence – we strive to be the best that we can be.
“Responsibility – we are accountable for our actions.
“Fair play – when we play we want to play fairly.
“Participation – we get involved,” said Mahlanyane.
