GALLERY: Spring to soccer action
EMMARENTIA – Soccer never stops at Marks Park Sports Club.
The Spring five-a-side soccer leagues are in full swing at Marks Park Sports Club, with roughly 90 teams gunning for glory in non-stop action through the week.
Urban Sports hosts two Monday, two Tuesday, two Thursday, and soon two Wednesday night leagues to ensure the pitches are always busy and soccer fanatics always have something good to watch. If you miss any of the action, the Urban Sports websites have video recordings of each match.
Indeed, it is hard to keep up as a spectator when about 45 matches are played by roughly 450 players in four days. By the end of the spring season (nine weeks) more than 400 matches will have been played. All this before Urban Sports has officially opened as a five-a-side soccer arena.
“Since we started a league with 14 teams in May, we have been so busy,” explained partner, Pedro Tocha.
“In each season we hold leagues and tournaments so it never stops. We hope to hold an official opening soon but we still need to plan it.”
The night of 4 October saw the second round of the Spring Tuesday leagues, The Premiere League and Division 1. Rebels United and Azzurri FC were two of the teams to compete in this division. The game was very even, with Azzurri winning slightly more possession than their opponents.
While Rebels players linked up well to score some excellent team goals, they ran out of energy near the end, and Azzurri pounced on the ball at every opportunity. Their skill on the ball and movement of it down the pitch was also superior. In the end, Azzurri won 6–4, in a competitive match that saw good sportsmanship reign supreme.
“It was a good game – we took our chances and our man-marking was solid,” said Azzurri captain, Robin Donnelly.
Rebels captain, Simphiwe Hlatshwayo said their team was a new one – this being only their second season of five-a-side soccer. “We were lacking stamina, but have been coming half an hour early each week to workout,” he said.
“Once we have stamina, no team will touch us.”
Details: info@urbansports.joburg; 071 284 4131.
Related article:
Ramadaan soccer tournament a huge success
