Phehellang Secondary School emerged as the champions of the Tumahole High Schools Soccer Tournament hosted over the past weekend at the Tumahole Sports Grounds.

This tournament was the first under the newly launched Edgar Legoale Soccer Schools Programme (ELSSP), bringing together high schools in Tumahole in an exciting display of youth talent, teamwork, and community spirit.

Guided by the theme “Keeping youth focused, one goal at a time,” the school’s programme is aimed at reviving and strengthening the soccer culture across schools in the Free State. This will be done by forming new soccer teams in schools where opportunities are limited or non-existent, and supporting the growth of existing ones by hosting local leagues, friendly matches, and inter-school tournaments.

At the same time, the past weekend’s tournament was a strategic build-up to the 2025 Edgar Legoale Knockout Easter Soccer Tournament that will take place this weekend from April 18-21 in partnership with the Free State Department of Education in the Fezile Dabi District.

From its inception, the Edgar Legoale Easter Soccer Tournament has been hosted at the Mandela Sports Ground, located next to Boitlamo Secondary School in Tumahole. This venue has become synonymous with the spirit of the tournament.

Matches will be kicking off daily at 09:00 for the duration of the tournament. “The 2025 tournament marks the seventh year of the tournament’s existence, having evolved into one of the biggest kasi tournaments in the Free State and beyond,” says Nthabiseng Molejane, foundation manager, adding that they have proudly hosted teams from provinces such as Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, and North West, further solidifying the tournament as a national grassroots soccer highlight.

With 16 teams participating and a total prize pool of R65 000, the tournament not only offers thrilling football action but also a platform for social impact, requiring the winning team to lead a drug awareness campaign in their community.

“As chairperson of the Edgar Legoale Foundation, I believe in the power of sport to transform lives. We are raising athletes, leaders, and ambassadors for change—one goal at a time,” says Legoale. “This year’s theme (Say no to drugs, yes to goals) reflects our unwavering commitment to raising awareness around the dangers of drug abuse, especially among the youth. Alarming statistics show a continued rise in substance use, threatening the future of young people in South Africa, and the Free State is no exception. Through this tournament, we create a platform that keeps our youth engaged in meaningful activities,” says Legoale.