SEDIBENG.- Local soccer teams participated in the Freedom Day Legends Top8 Tournament.

This eight teams soccer tournament kicked off at Pepsi ground in Phelandaba in Sharpeville on Freedom Day. The tournament featured some of the teams that were once known household names in the Sharpeville community and other areas.

Some of these teams are now defunct while others still exist. Speaking to Sedibeng Ster Sport, Tebello Kheswa who is behind this initiative said this tournament formed part of celebrating Freedom Day. He told Sedibeng Ster Sport that the aim was to revive, and bring back those teams that were once household names in the community.

Kheswa said they called this tournament ‘Freedom Day Legends Top8 Tournament’ to honour those players who were once part of these teams. He said to be a legend it doesn’t mean you must play at the highest level of football.

He told Sedibeng Ster Sport that a legend is someone who is well respected in his or her community.

“We came up with this concept because we want to bring back these players back to football who once played for these teams. To some of us who understand football they are our legends because they were the first crop of players to play for our teams. I think the mistake most people make is to think to be a legend you must appear on TV. For example, Bra Zakes (Zacharia Nale), you’re a legend and a good role model to many of us, especially these youngsters in the community. If it was of you, we wouldn’t know some of these talented youngsters in our community. Sedibeng without you would be poor because passion for the development of sports not only in Vaal but the whole South African is unmatched. You wrote about most of these players before they graduated to professional football,” said Kheswa.