Victoria Park put best foot forward

VICTORIA Park High will once again test their might against some of the top soccer schools in the country when they take part in the Grey College Nedbank Soccer Challenge, starting on Saturday.

VP have been invited to participate in the 20-team tournament hosted by Grey in Bloemfontein from October 4 to 7.

Teams taking part this year include last year's champions Norkem Park High, KES from Johannesburg and Kloof High from Durban. Each year Grey also invite two or three academy teams to take part.

The U18 tournament will showcase talented school soccer players from around the country, providing them with a platform to shine and possibly further their careers if they are spotted by talent scouts who attend the event.

VP, who won the tournament in 2004, will look to do well after finishing third at last year's event. The team who win the tournament will receive R25000 towards the development of soccer at their school.

VP team manager Ralton Leander admits there will be no easy games. VP finished the recently concluded Western Zone soccer league in top position.

"I am very proud of our boys. They managed to pull through and secure the league for our school," Leander said.

The tournament will take place at Grey College's Windmill Park and sees the 20-team field split into four groups of five teams, the top two teams in each group advancing to the knockout stages.

VP players to look out for are striker Lonwabo Balfour, who is in line to sign up with a university side, and goalkeeper Nkosinathi Gcakasi, undergoing a trial at Bay PSL side Chippa United.

"We have to focus on our performances, make sure we have a good run in the group stages and if possible finish in one of the top two positions, as we will then have a good route to the knockout rounds," Leander said.

VP soccer head Joan Clarke, in charge of the sport for the past decade, said the school's soccer programme had really grown in stature since she took over.

She believes they have a good squad of players capable of challenging for the crown.

The team received an award as team of the year from the Eastern Cape Sport and Recreation Department earlier this year. - Amir Chetty