The Sol Plaatje Local Football Association (LFA) is sending four junior teams to the Mother City to take part in the annual inter-LFA tournament.
The Sol Plaatje Local Football Association (LFA) is sending four junior teams to the Mother City to take part in the annual inter-LFA tournament that is set to restart next week after a long lay off which was induced by the Covid-19 pandemic.
LFA chairperson Seabata Makhele said the Association intend to send four LFA elite teams to the Cape Town tournament. “The players drawn for this tournament have been selected from the many clubs affiliated to our association. There are, for instance, two elite Under-12 teams, one Under-14 team and an Under-18 side that we will take to the tournament.
“We did this all from all our divisions where we chose the best of the best. From the other side they will have two teams from the Western Cape, namely Western Cape Central and two from the Eastern Cape, namely East London and Gqeberha.”
Makhele appealed for assistance with regard to their logistics for the tournament.
“At the moment we are trying to put a comprehensive logistics programme together. We do appeal for sports lovers all over to assist us by giving anything in kind or money. The stuff we need in kind could be vitals such as fruit and edibles which would be of help.
“Interested persons may contact me or our offices for guidance regarding that assistance”, he said.
On Wednesday afternoon several youth development coaches from around Galeshewe had gathered their teams at the FNB artificial turf for workouts in preparation for the inter-LFA tournament which is set for October 3-6 in Cape Town.
The inter-LFA tournament was launched about five years prior to the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic by football fanatics and team managers involved in the LFAs of the Western and Eastern Cape.
In that time they had twice invited the Sol Plaatje LFA to their tournaments which were held in Cape Town and the follow-up one in Gqeberha to which the diamond fields LFA had obliged.
A complimentary return tournament which was planned for the Diamond City had, unfortunately, fallen apart at the time owing to administrative challenges. An official not authorised to represent the LFA said, “All that is water under the bridge now.”
The four local elite teams will depart Kimberley on Monday.
Sonwabo Madiele, the regular coach of Diamond Footballers who has been roped into the LFA elite side, said he will make the trip down to the coast with a full complement of Under-18 players.
Dalton Brothers FC development team coach Samson Moloto was also on hand watching his select team on the pitch playing a practice match against another junior select side. “This is our Under-12 side,” he said, pointing to bib clad boys running on the field. “We will be accompanying three other local, age group sides to the Cape tournament.
