New champs crowned at the fourth edition of the Legacy Soccer Tournament
Overflow FC u17 and Kathorus Juventus u19 grabbed the spotlight as they were crowned the champions of the 4th edition of the Legacy Soccer Tournament at the Vosloorus Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Contesting the u17 age category, Overflow FC remained strong and consistent over the course of many weeks of intense competition, which brought together some of the finest development football teams from across the Gauteng region.
Having qualified for the semi-finals, Overflow FC faced Kathorus Hyper Academy, which has previously campaigned in the prestigious Gauteng Development League. Overflow FC were up for the challenge, however, and claimed an exciting 3-2 win to book a place in the final against Mojo City FC.
A penalty shootout success had earned Mojo City FC their place in the title-decider. Their final four meeting with Alaska ended level at 1-1 after regulation time. Then, Mojo City advanced 4-3 from the penalty spot.
In the final, though, their luck ran out as Overflow FC secured the silverware with a 3-1 win.
The u19 section of the Legacy Soccer Tournament lived up to its high expectations, with some sparkling football delivering plenty of enjoyment to the fans in attendance.
Mojo City made it all the way to the u19 title game. Unfortunately for them, their u19 side suffered the same fate as their u17 counterparts and they were stopped in the final, with Kathorus Juventus recording a 2-0 victory.
Kathorus Juventus take with them the bragging rights for the next 12 months after succeeding New Jack City FC, who won the third edition of the Legacy Soccer Tournament.
Success and Challenges of the tournament
This year’s tournament featured a record of 36 teams in total, with 20 teams battling it out in the u17 division, while 16 teams featured in the u19 division.
The contenders included teams from the Gauteng Provincial League, as well as regional and local leagues.
In only its fourth year, the competition has already revealed itself as an ideal showcase of young talent.
Backing was provided by the South African Music Performance Rights Association (SAMPRA), which sponsored two football kits and R15 000, while The Department of Sports and Recreation also donated two kits. Those four playing kits were then presented to the finalists of both divisions.
During the tournament, it became apparent that some teams had issues meeting the South Africa Football Association (Safa) uniform rules. Another issue was a reduction in support from the local community, with viewing numbers down compared to the last edition of the event.
At the conclusion of the competition, the organisers appealed to more sponsors to come forward to back the tournament to help it continue to grow and achieve its full potential.
