Chance for kids to earn their spurs

SPARKS are expected to fly when the Port Elizabeth regional Spur Soccer Masidlale league finals take place at the NU2 Stadium in Motherwell today from 2pm.

The event is South Africa's first organised seven-a-side soccer league for primary schools' girls and boys between the ages of nine and 13. The series is played in Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and KwaZulu-Natal.

Children from 10 primary schools – Empumalanga, Imbasa, Mboniselo, Ikhwezelihle, Enqileni, Melisizwe, Mdengentonga, Khulile, Enkwenkwezini and Redhouse – teachers and coaches participated in a nine-week league challenge.

Three points were awarded to a winning side with two points for a draw.

The boys' and the girls' teams finishing on top of the log table will win a special Spur lunch and a Premiership League match mascot experience.

Spur Group spokeswoman Christel Liebenberg said the initiative started in 2005 and the league had grown steadily.

"Our aim is to develop skill and to identify talented players from the grassroots level.

"We want to equip them to be role models in their communities long after the Spur Masidlale league comes to a close." - Mthetho Ndoni