4 December - 10 December 2013
SEDIBENG STER
13
Mighty Stars crowned Midas U/17 Champions
Zacharia Nale
SHARPEVILLE. - Mighty Stars FC was crowned the Midas Development Soccer Tournament kings at James Ground on Saturday. They achieved this by beating bitter rivals Vaal Milano FC 1-0 in this tense final. Stars booked their place in the final after they beat Ama Cheese Boys 3-0 in the semi-final match, while Vaal Milano walloped Vaal Manchester FC 2-0 to go through. Mighty Stars FC received soccer kits and medals for their effort, while Vaal Milano and Ama Cheese Boys received silver and bronze
medals, respectively. According to Midas sponsorship manager Thapelo Molise the arrangement with the organisers of the tournament was for the u/15s; however, when he got there he was told that it was now for the u/17s. To make things worse, some of the teams brought their u/15s and it was unfair for these youngsters to compete against the more mature u/17 players. Nevertheless, Molise says he was overwhelmed by the talent on display that day. “I’m very impressed by the talent of these boys and I have no doubt this tourna-
ment will continue to unearth more talent in this region. We as Midas Vanderbijlpark branch will continue to support the development of football in this region,” he says.
Molise says the tournament is part of Midas’s bid to plough back into the community and toward the upliftment of football in this region.
Mighty Stars was crowned the Midas U/17 Soccer Tournament Champion. Photo: Zacha ria Nale.
Vaal Milano before their final match against Mighty Stars FC at James Grounds on Satur day. Photo: Zacharia Nale.
Pooe Festive Games around corner Zacharia Nale
EVATON. - It’s that time of year when local soccer fans will inevitably flock to the Behermen Rovers Soccer Grounds to watch local ‘diski nine’ (outstanding football) for the annual Pooe Festival Games kick-off on December 15. The tournament is the initiative of the Kgokgi Sports Foundation as part of sports development in Sedibeng. This legacy tournament is one of the oldest tournaments in Sedibeng whereby local soccer youngsters are given a platform from which to showcase their talent. Some of the notable names who graced this tournament in the past include the likes of Steve ‘Chippa’ Lekoelea and other PSL local stars. The winner of the tournament will smile all the way to the bank with a cheque of R80 000, medals, a trophy and soccer kits, while the second place team will pocket R40 000, medals and soccer kits. Third place will walk away with R30 000 and medals, while fourth place will receive R20 000.
In the u/17 category, the winner will receive R6 000, medals, soccer kits and a trophy, while the runner-ups will get R3 500, medals and soccer kits. Third place will go home with R2 000 and medals while fourth-place will pocket R1 000. The winner in u/15 will receive R4 000, soccer kits, medals and a trophy, while the runner-ups will get R2 500, soccer kits and medals. The winner in the u/13 division will receive R3000, soccer kits, a trophy and medals. The runners-up will receive R1500, soccer kits and medals while the third placed will get R750 and medals. The tournament will start on a point-system format with the two top teams proceeding to the next round. Tournament Director Mondli Nkosi says all the teams are invited to come and affiliate as it’s a case of first-come, first-served. Meanwhile the MSC Soccer Tournament semi-finals are scheduled for December 7 and 8 at the George Thabe Stadium.
All roads will lead to Behermen Rovers Soccer Ground for the much anticipated Pooe Annual Festive Soccer Tournament this December. Photo: Zacharia Nale.
Vaal Mancester FC before their semifinal match against Vaal Milano FC. Photo: Zacharia Nale.
Barcelona and Milano in a war of words Zacharia Nale
SEDIBENG. - It was an interesting argument that raged between Real Barcelona and Vaal Milano FC managers, namely Junior Gusha and Dingane “Dicks” Tshabalala. This was during the MCS Soccer Tournament at James Grounds on Saturday with the two beating their chests to tell anyone who cared to listen that their teams would win the league come the end of the season. Tshabalala says his team might not have money like his counterparts - referring to Vaal Milano - but tactically his team is rich. This sparked the debate in which Gusha expressed the belief that - if Real Barcelona was tactically rich - they would not have been relegated from the Vodacom League
three seasons ago. Tshabalala continues, “If I had those sponsorships that you guys had, I think my teams would be unstoppable. ‘The problem is that you have money but don’t know how to use it.’ “Listen to me, Dicks, your team will never compete with Vaal Milano because it finished last season in fourth position on the log despite the fact that we played with youngsters. If your team was so much better than ours as you say, then you should have finished at the top of the league last season,” Gusha cut in. The debate went on until the two agreed that the team that beats the other when they clash in the league fixture is the one that will win the league at the end of the season.