Future stars get chance in 'beautiful game'

SEVERAL valuable spin-offs were achieved at the soccer tournament.

One was that a team led by Nouwaal Isaacs from the Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU) made their debut.

"We have battled to find money to buy these boys their gear," Isaacs said. "Receiving sponsorship to cover the costs for the tournament really helped a lot."

One player's mother said: "We don't have much money and we certainly don't have enough to afford gear or soccer fees.

"I am just grateful for people out there who care for our kids in the northern areas and are willing to walk the extra mile to help our kids play," she said.

Gishma Abrahams, corporate communications manager at GMSA, the title sponsor for this year's tournament, said for the youngest players involved, some aged only nine and younger, who had just kicked off their soccer careers, the Gelvan Sports Grounds had been the "melting pot" this weekend where they got to show off their talents.

"And from this, hopefully, stars everyone can look up to were born." – Alvené du Plessis