After two months of healthy competitive street soccer, the curtain came down in Khayelitsha, Cape Town announcing ‘Nomli’ from Nyanga as Western Cape champions in the Kia Street Soccer Provincial final.
With fourteen teams competing in the days play, it came down to the final which showed superior soccer skills seeing ‘Nomli’ from Nyanga beat ‘Sonwabo’ from Gugulethu, 5-0 in an energy sapping match. The close contests all afternoon ensured that the crowds who lined the pavement were kept in anticipation as they cheered on their respective teams. When the final whistle blew there were high fives and handshakes all around before the winning team were handed individual trophies and the coveted Kia Street Soccer floating trophy from local PSL team Ajax Cape Town.
Every child having completed four months of health educational training together with the soccer programme has now qualified to receive a ticket to go watch a 2010 FIFA World CupTM match. All Kia Street Soccer participants will be transported to Cape Town Stadium and given a food pack as they watch their ‘2010 dreams come true.’
Sponsor Kia Motors, in association with Foodzone, Let’s Play, Laser Logistics and Sporting Chance were pleased with the outcome in the round-robin stages and playoffs which drew hundreds of locals from the community to the ‘street side’ in support of their young soccer stars.
Managing Director of Sporting Chance, Brad Bing and his team, who are the brains trust behind the project, have been thrilled by the skills all teams have shown over the past two months.
“This project has been very special for us in the year that see’s South Africa host the 2010 FIFA World CupTM and a special word of thanks must to go our sponsors, associates and partners. Kia Motors, Foodzone, The Dischem Foundation, Laser Logistics and Ajax Cape Town have really made this project a memorable one in the Western Cape and I am convinced that every child will remember this project for a long time,” said Bing.
“I’m glad the project can continue to see not only every child given the opportunity to witness history in being able to watch a 2010 FIFA World CupTM match, but also those children who showcased talent and impressed our PSL partners have been incorporated into their academy structures to hopefully develop into future professional players” commented Bing.
Local PSL team Ajax Cape Town have been visiting the various regions over the past two months and as part of their association in the Kia Street Soccer Project have committed to coach, mentor as well as scout for potential talent, of which some players have already been invited to their youth trials.
All regional coordinators were really impressed with not only the skill that was showcased at all the venues, but also at the camaraderie portrayed between the teams in the build up to the finals. Cyril Pelston, coordinator of Manenberg expressed his delight at the family and friends who supported the players through the duration of the tournament.
“To see the families and friends come down to the action is fascinating and does a lot in making each player feel important. I have been touched at how close the teams have grown and even trained in-between the tournament days, which really showed on match days in the skills that they have developed,” said Pelston.
The Western Cape leg of the Kia Street Soccer project is made up of a total of one hundred and forty teams across seven regions. Each team in the tournament is made up of six under 13 kids, of whom at least two are girls. All players must have attended school throughout the year prior to the start of the tournament and are encouraged to belong to the local sports club within their community.
