SEBOKENG.- Grassroots football will never be the same again.

These were the words of the Emfuleni Local Football Association’s (ELFA) head of development, Master Zondo.

This was after ELFA and Thabong Build It announced their recent partnership.

Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Zondo said the two parties have entered into a marriage, which will see teams under the ELFA participating in the U13 Build It Knockout Cup. This Top 8 Knockout Cup is scheduled to take place at the Sebokeng Ajax Ground in Zone 16 this weekend.

As if this is not enough, Heist of Combo is also part of this marriage after hosting a successful U12 Diski Challenge at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Centre in October. This tournament was a great success, with the tournament organisers hosting Mamelodi Sundowns development against the Heist of Combo Diski Challenge Squad at the Isak Steyl Stadium last weekend.

Back to the ELFA and Build It partnership, Zondo told Sedibeng Ster Sport that this is good news for the development of football in Emfuleni.

He told Sedibeng Ster Sport that the Top 8 Knockout Cup will be played by the ELFA stream winners and runners-up, namely Evaton Red Stream, Evaton Blue Stream, Sebokeng Orange Stream, Sebokeng Yellow Stream, and Boitshepiville White Stream. Zondo promised Sedibeng Ster Sport that this is going to be an exciting one-day knockout cup ahead of the ELFA Champ of Champs Play Offs scheduled for Tuesday.

“As head of development leagues in Emfuleni, I am very excited about this partnership, and I’m hoping it will be a healthy relationship between the organisations. Thanks for believing in the power of football to transform lives at development level. We are buzzing with excitement for partnering with Build It,” said Zondo.

The Build It Top 8 Knockout Cup weekend fixtures:

Sharpeville Rhinos FC vs Lakeside Future Stars FC

Vaal Inter FC vs Sebokeng Italian Job

Vaal Octopus vs Sharpeville Sweepers FC

Sebokeng Ajax FC vs Sebokeng Brazil.