20th Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge ready for kick off
Discovery and the South African Football Association (SAFA) will host the 20th edition of the Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge from the 1st to the 23rd of December, with the grassroots diski tournament set to welcome almost 3 000 players from far and wide.
Addressing the media at the launch at 1 Discovery Place in Sandton recently, SAFA Johannesburg President and tournament co-founder, Phil Mogodi, said the tournament is one that aspiring players dream of winning.
“This tournament is proud to have hosted the likes of Sibusiso Vilakazi, Percy Tau, Portia Modise, Lyle Foster, Ronwen Williams, Andile Dlamini and many more,” he said.
“It’s the festival for those wanting to follow in the footsteps of our country’s greatest footballers, and every single year the competition is more tightly contested than the year before.
“I’ve said it before, and I shall do so again: Participating in a tournament of this nature is unquantifiable and an absolute essential to any serious footballer, in my opinion. The player coming into this tournament is much more refined, skilled, determined and knowledgeable come the final whistle; and that’s our goal here.”
The tournament, which debuted in 2002, will, once again, be hosted by Shapa Soweto. Extremely competitive and highly anticipated, the one-of-a-kind football festival is renowned for the passion and spirit its players share on the pitch.
It’s big, very big! The men’s open category features 64 teams, while the women’s open includes 16 sides. In the under-17 age group, 40 teams will be in action. Only a handful of places remain open in the women’s categories.
The tournament begins with a round robin format, with the top teams progressing to the quarterfinals. From there, it’s a knockout format.
Deon Curtis, Senior Marketing Manager for Sponsorships at Discovery, said at the launch: “There’s something for everyone in this tournament, providing a professional platform for promising players to perform.
“Communities rally in support of the diski talent on display, and as Discovery continues to invest in school sports and the communities in which we serve, this tournament is one of many that speaks to our goal of getting more people active.”
