Mfundo Cecil Foundation Soccer Tournament boosts sports’ participation in Emalahleni
The Lady Frere Sport Legends, in collaboration with the Mfundo Cecil Foundation, hosts their annual u17 football tournament from 26 to 28 April at the Cacadu Stadium in Emalahleni.
The event, which will be broadcast live on SuperSport Schools, was brought into being by the LFSL.
A non-profit organisation, the LFSL was founded in December 2016 with a goal of revitalising sports in the Emalahleni municipality. Besides backing sports, it also offers educational, health, and guidance initiatives to empower the youth of the region.
Since its founding, however, football has been at the forefront of the LFSL’s drive to reestablish sports in Emalahleni, with annual events, supported by South African Football Association (Safa) and the Department of Education, driving the initiative.
Their first annual football tournament took place in April 2018, and was attended by scouts of Ajax Cape Town. Also on the sidelines was former Bafana Bafana star, David Nyathi, who earned 45 caps for the South African national team.
After its conclusion, a tournament Dream Team was invited to play against Ajax’s development team, and also took on Vasco da Gama, Ubuntu Football Academy, St Agnes Rangers, and the Khayelitsha Local Football Association in a three-day event.
The forthcoming competition was previously known as the Sisa Mbekeni Schools Soccer Tournament, because of the backing of the Sisa Mbekeni Foundation. However, this year, it has been renamed the Mfundo Cecil Foundation Soccer Tournament, with the organisation taking over the as tournament’s primary sponsor.
Among the goals of the LFSL, which will be promoted alongside the football tournament, are raising awareness of drug abuse and gender-based violence. The involvement of schools in sport is also a key theme.
Invitations have been extended to scouts from a number of prominent clubs, including Tuks, SuperSport United, Cape Town Spurs, TS Galaxy, and Sikhukhune United FC.
Further support will be provided by Umhlobo Wenene FM’s sports presenter Ongeziwe Mjana.
Match Schedule: Cacadu Stadium
26 April
Match 1: 09:00-09:45: SSS Academy vs Nonkululeko
Match 2: 09:50-10:35: Mzamo High vs Phumlani Tech SS
Match 3: 10:40-11:45: Young Chiefs Academy vs Thambekile SSS
Match 4: 11:30-12;15: Sosebenza High vs Mthonjeni JSS
Match 5: 12:20-13:05: Noshumi United Academy vs Freeman Boys High
Match 6: 13:10-13:55: Ntsokotha High vs Pakamani SSS
Match 7: 14:00-14:45: Nonkululeko SSS vs Echibini SSS
Match 8: 14:50-15:35 Phumlani Tech SS vs Lukhanyo SSS
Match 9: 15:50-16:25: Thambekile SSS vs Maria Louw High
Match 10: 16:30-17:15: Mthonjeni JSS vs Kwa-Mhlontlo High
Match 11: 17:20-18:05: Fremantle Boys High vs Sosebenza High
Match 12: 18:10-18:55: Pakamani SSS vs Get Ahead College
27 April: Freedom Day
Match 13: 09:00-09:45: Echibini SSS vs SSS Academy
Match 14: 09:45-10:35: Lukhanyo SSS vs Mzamo High
Match 15: 10:40-11:25: Maria Louw High vs Young Chiefs Academy
Match 16: 11:30-12:15: Kwa-Mhlontlo High vs Sosebenza High
Match 17: 12:20-13:05: Noshumi United Academy vs Gcinubuzwe SSS
Match 18: 13:10- 13:55: Ntsokotha High vs Dordrecht High
Match 19: 14:00- 14:45: Xonxa JSS vs Noshumi United Academy
Match 20: 14:50- 15:35: Get Ahead College vs Ntsokotha High
Match 21: 15:40- 16:25: Gcinubuzwe High vs Xonxa JSS
Match 22: 16:30- 17:15: Dordrecht High vs Get Ahead College
Match 23: 17:20- 18:05: Freemantle Boys High vs Gcinubuzwe JSS
Match 24: 18:10-18:55: Pakamani SSS vs Dordrecht High
28 April: Quarterfinals
Match 25: 09:00-09:45: Winner A vs Winner B
Match 26: 09:50-10:35: Winner E vs Runner Up F
Match 27: 10:40-11:25: Winner C vs Winner D
Match 28: 11:30-12:15: Winner F vs Runner Up E
28 April: Semi-finals
Match 29: 12:00-13:05: Winner A/Winner B vs Winner C/Winner D
Match 30: 13:10-13:55: Winner E/Runner Up F vs Winner F/Runner E
28 April: Final
Match 31: 14:30-15:40: Winner A/B or Winner C/D vs Winner E/F or Winner F/Runner Up E