For the love of football

Despite the wet weather on Saturday, soccer enthusiasts were not deterred from participating in the 12th annual Muslim Youth Organisation (MYO) soccer tournament at the Paradise Sports Grounds.

A total of 36 teams participated.

With teams hailing from Kroonstad, Escourt, Volksrust, Ermelo and Vryheid, competing against each other and local teams, each team was determined to clinch a win.

To ensure the teams were fairly matched, the teams were divided into age groups.

Dundee’s under 11 team clinched the win for the day, after a heated match against Estcourt. Vryheid’s u/14 team managed to score the winning goal against Newcastle.

Newcastle’s u/17 team won for the first time since 2007, thanks to Derryl Naidoo who secured the winning goal during a penalty shootout.

In the u/11 division, Dawood Adam from Newcastle was dubbed player of the tournament, as he displayed considerable talent and sportsmanship. Abdullah Moolla from Newcastle was the u/14 player of the tournament, while Hasan Sader from Ladysmith clinched the same title for the u/17 division. The highest goal scorer of the tournament was Sandile Buthelezi of Vryheid.

On behalf of MYO, Shabir Ismael thanked all supporters, well wishers and donors who contributed in cash or kind.

“A big thank you is extended to Portia of Newcastle Municipality who assisted in the preparations of the venue, Newcastle Court Sports Association (NCSA) as well as South African Football Association for their support. The countdown for MYO 2016 has already begun,” he concluded.