Oldest soccer tournament a test
THE quarterfinals of the oldest soccer tournament in the Northern Areas will be played at the Malabar fields on Saturday.
Now in its 51st year the Mala Moodaley KO Cup competition has been the most prestigious competition in the Eastern Province Soccer Board following the unification of the EP African, EP Coloured and EP Indian football associations almost 60 years ago.
The late Mala Moodaley was the founding president of the Board.
Stardrift who beat Paladins in the first two finals, and lost the third to Swallows, play Glenville in the early match on Malabar 2.
The second final between Stardrift and Paladins at the Showgrounds was the first EP Soccer Board match to be played under lights.
It was the same year Stardrift made a clean sweep of all the trophies.
Unfortunately the club does not have a photograph of the team with the awards.
"Mike Adams who lived in Walmer Road in the old South End took a team picture. Sadly he passed away days later before he could develop the film, " said one of the survivors of the history-making team, Claude Simon.
On the adjoining field Blackpool, who have won the trophy more often than any other club, bar defending champions Hotspurs who have been knocked out of the competition, play newcommers Westham.
While not underestimating Westham, Blackpool coach Kevin Assam is quietly optimistic of lifting the second piece of silverware.
"We did not do well in the Premier League Cup but our preparations are on track to add another Mala Moodaley Cup to the seven the club has won over the years."
The late game on Malabar 2 between Fairview Rovers and Chatty United should be a real humdinger. Both teams have qualified for the Nafa Premier League Cup competition where they will play Bloom Callies and Glenville, respectively.
In the last quarterfinal Wolves should have the beating of Ebenezer who struggled in the Premier Cup competition.
The winners will be back in action on Sunday for the semifinals.
The finals will be played at the Gelvan Stadium on Cup Finals Day on October 14.
Quarterfinal fixtures (Malabar, Saturday):
Blackpool v Westham; Chatty United v Fairview Rovers; Glenville Stardrift; Ebenezer v Wolves
Semifinals
(Gelvan, Sunday):
Blackpool/Westham v Chatty United/ Fairview Rovers; Glenville/Stardrift v Ebenezer/Wolves