The 2015 Annual Mogale City Mayor’s Soccer Tournament was an unquestionable achievement with more than 40 soccer teams vying for honours in the eighth-edition of the competition.
The competition is part of Executive Mayor Koketso Calvin Seerane’s social responsibility to identify talent within our society. The tournament saw soccer teams across Mogale City battling it out in various soccer fields to lay claim to the silverware.
The annual event is held in partnership with SAFA affiliated Mogale City Local Football Association and was played in four streams – masters, seniors, u/17 and ladies soccer. For the first time since the tournament’s inception in 2008, netball was included as a new sport.
The competition is also in line with the municipality’s Integrated Development Programme (IDP) and provincial strategy on mass participation. The tournament seeks to promote healthy lifestyles and ongoing socialisation for young people.
The tournament produced talented players who are currently plying their trade in Premier Soccer League (PSL) teams.
Some of the players that the tournament has produced include Asive Langwe who played for Bidvest Wits and is now with Kwa-Zulu Natal-based Amazulu, Lucky Baloyi formerly with Kaizer Chiefs now playing for Moroka Swallows.
Throughout the tournament, more than fifty goals were scored and teams played their hearts out to lay their hands on the trophies. The highlight of the tournament was a game between West Rand Masters and Vaal Master.
The teams comprised of former professional players such as James “Killer” Mkhwanazi, Geelboy “Gomma Gomma” Masango, and Bradley “Killer” Mahlonoko. Before the game, a moment of silence was observed in honour of the late former Vaal Professional player Neil Jansen who passed on last year while on the field of play in Munsieville. West Rand Masters beat Vaal Masters by four goals to one.
Aqua Ladies won the ladies section, while Young United and FC Academy emerged victors in the under-17 and seniors respectively. In the masters section, Swanieville retained the cup when they beat Kagiso-based Gondo 3-0.
Aqua Ladies beat Barcelona 4 -3 in the finals and were awarded R5 000 for their efforts while Barcelona received R2 000. In the loser’s finals, Lusaka Ladies defeated Nico Taurus 7 -1, and increased their bank balance by R1 000.
In the seniors, FC Academy were awarded a whooping R25 000 for defeating Mogale Hurricanes 4-3 after a nail biting penalty shootout. Hurricanes received R10 000, while LFA League affiliated Mogale Hurricanes and Rangers took home R7 000 and R3 000 respectively for third and fourth positions.
Other results:
Netball
1st Position: Barcelona (R5 000)
2nd Position: Boithabiso (R2 000)
Under-17
1st Position: Young United (R6 000)
2st Position: Kagiso Warriors (R4 500)
3rd Position: Tornado (R3 000)
4th Position: Stone Breakers (R1 500)