Monaco Soccer Club Number One in Sedibeng

WHEN Ndade Zwane and Pitso Thubella joined the Sebokeng-based Ayifuniwena Soccer Legends, 18-years ago, they did not know that their team will give birth to the much celebrated Monaco Soccer Club, which recently won the 2007 Sedibeng festive season tournament. Zwane and Thubella together developed a team for youngsters under the umbrella of Ayifuniwena.

After realising that Ayifuniwena players were getting too old to continue playing soccer, Zwane and Thubella decided to develop a team for youngsters under the umbrella of Ayifuniwena. “The team has only one division. We realised that many divisions will divide our attention so we prefer to focus on one,” said Ndade.

Zwane is responsible for the management of the team while Thubella concentrates on being the team’s coach. “We consider ourselves lucky for leading such a dedicated team. We are also happy to have won the biggest tournament in Sedibeng. Despite all the challenges and hardships we have had in the past, our team is now set for more success,” Thubella added.

“We have been participating in several tournaments since 2005, and didn’t experience such joy. Winning this tournament brought enthusiasm and the spirit of togetherness among team members. Now we have to promote the team, win more games and get entrance to major leagues like the Mvela Golden League, the Castle Premiership League and the Vodacom League.

Monaco won the first position in the 2007 Sedibeng festive season soccer tournament, walking away with a whopping R25 000 in prize money. They held a big celebration party where each player also received a bonus of R600.

Soccer Rules in Evaton

On Heritage Day, the 24th September 2007, hundreds of soccer lovers from all over Evaton came together to do what they love to do best: play and watch soccer at the Evaton Renewal Pooe Heritage Tournament. The one-day tournament was held at the Evaton Show Grounds and organised in partnership by the Evaton Renewal Project and prominent Evaton businessman, Mr Kgokgi Pooe.

32 teams participated, 16 teams in the Open division and 16 in the Masters division. The Evaton Development Forum (EDF), Deputy Chairman, Lovemore Moremi said, “The tournament went very well. We want to take this initiative forward because it highlights the need to reach out and bring people of Evaton together. It also contributes towards social development, which is an important objective of the Evaton Renewal Programme”.

According to Matebesi Mantso, the Community Liaison Officer responsible for Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture: “The tournament enjoys the participation of many young people in Evaton. It also helps to publicise the Evaton Renewal Project in the community so that people are aware about the project”.

The winning team in the Open Category was the Voka Lofa Football Club. They won an Evaton Renewal Project Floating Trophy, gold medals, a soccer ball and a cash prize. In the Masters Category the winning team was the Qwebezela Football Club. They won an Evaton Renewal Project Floating Trophy and gold medals.