Department Hosts Junior Soccer Festival in Bonteheuwel

It was all about putting the ball in the back of the opponent’s net for 16 five-a-side junior soccer teams from Bonteheuwel on Friday, 24 January 2014. Each team represented one of the participating nations in the Orange African Nations Championship (CHAN), currently being played in South Africa. The junior soccer festival was hosted by the Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport (DCAS) to mobilise community interest in CHAN 2014.

Golden Gate (representing Libya) was crowned the winner of the under-13 and under-15 events in Bonteheuwel. DCAS has been encouraging communities in the Cape Metropole to “adopt a nation” for CHAN. Thousands of spectators have been given complementary tickets and free transport to watch the action live at the Cape Town and Athlone Stadiums.

The Bonteheuwel soccer festival brought players and spectators together; it was fun; it was filled with action; and it promoted the development of players at grassroots level. Player of the Tournament Shahiem Solomons (12) of Golden Gate, who loves soccer so much that he could play it every day, said he and his team-mates enjoyed playing against other teams from his community. “We appreciate opportunities such as this festival where we can show spectators what we can do on the field and to have fun doing it.”

Colin Cedras of DCAS Club Development added that the festival reached out to a community that loves the beautiful game. “Players competed in good spirit, and the games brought people together to develop junior soccer and to watch the CHAN 2014 matches in Cape Town,” he said.