EVATON. – This year’s Pooe Festive Tournament reminds Zakes’ Sports Corner of when the Evaton community used to pack the dusty soccer grounds to capacity to watch football.

Gone are those days…

Yes, in the past, the soccer fans in the community used to pack these grounds to watch only two teams playing on a Sunday afternoon.

Those with long memories will recall how the Evaton community used to pack the dusty township soccer grounds to watch the likes of Brathoms Blackpool formerly Evaton Blackpool FC, Evaton Ocean Stars FC, Evaton Real Sweepers FC, Junior Rovers FC, Parktown Rangers FC, Santos FC Holly Birds FC, Black Angels FC, Evaton Real Madrid FC, Continental FC, Napoli FC, Zone 3 Swallows FC, Zone 3 Cosmos, Happy Stars FC, Double Action FC and City Rumblers FC to mention only a few.

For the past four days, Zakes’ Sports Corner enjoyed action-packed football at the Pooe Festive Tournament.

Growing up in Evaton, yours truly Zakes’ Sports Corner has fond memories of how young and old used to pack the soccer grounds to watch their favourite teams.

As they say, “sometimes memories sneak out” and my tears rolled down my cheeks as I remembered how passionate the Evaton community was about football.

The most positive thing about this Pooe Festive Tournament is that it plays such an important role in the community – they sell food and refreshments to put bread on the table, especially for those who are hustling.

Today, a tournament of 40 teams or more is necessary to attract such a large crowd, unlike in the past.

Bring back those good old memories in our community, Zakes’ Sports Corner misses the atmosphere on Sunday afternoons when men and women, young and old would, gathered at the soccer grounds to enjoy their favourite game.

It felt great going down memory lane while at this year’s Pooe Festive Tournament.