Spirit of ubuntu strong between two allies
DUNCAN Village Football Association hosted a highly successful Zola Dunywa North End/Duncan Village Goodwill Football Games on Saturday at the Gompo Stadium.
The second edition of this event involved the U10, U12, U14, U16, U18 and senior representative sides from the two oldest established football institutions in the Buffalo City region.
The event is named after the former Director of Safa Youth Development, Zola Dunywa, who was also Bafana Bafana manager and the first Safa-Border president when football was unified in 1991.
Dunywa played his football in Duncan Village, North End and in Mdantsane and is arguably the most successful football leader from our region. The Goodwill Games came into fruition to strengthen working relations between the two football associations and to forge a closer bond between the players and officials from these two neighbouring structures.
In an enthralling day of exciting and competitive football played in a wonderful spirit before a huge crowd the honours were shared. Duncan Village triumphed in the U10 (3-1) and U12 (2-1) age group categories, while East London Central won the U14 (2-1) and senior (2-1) age groups.
The U16 age group fixture ended goalless while the U18s also shared the spoils in an exciting 1-1 draw.
Onke Gubushe (Duncan Village FA U12) and Khanya Mtati (East London Central U14) were voted the Peggy Nesta Foundation-sponsored Players of the Tournament.
“It is incredible what these two football organisations are doing to promote and foster the development of the game at youth level within their community constituencies,” said Zola Dunywa, “and it is truly amazing the amount of football talent that exist between these football structures. It is my wish that these football institutions continue with the good work because, at the end of the day, the true beneficiaries of the sacrifices and hard work will be the youth, who are destined to be the future leaders of our communities.”
Meanwhile, C C Lloyd-based Seagulls kept alive their East London Central premier league title aspirations after a hard-fought 2-1 win against Star of India on Sunday at the North End Stadium.
Marco van Wyk grabbed the headlines when his superbly taken free-kick found the back of the net in the dying minutes of the game.
This after Jonty Arends had nudged Seagulls ahead in the first half before Stars veteran striker Allistar Visagie levelled matters just after halftime.
Defending champions Swaraj moved up into third place after they beat Prides 3-0, courtesy of a double strike from Keanu Minnaar and a well-taken goal from Dillon Block.
Parkside United’s troubled season continued when they went down by a 3-1 margin to Brothers of Peace, and Conquerors eased their relegation fears, beating Napoli 2-1.
In the other premier league results table-toppers Riverside crushed Atlantic Spurs 4-1 and Saints held Buffalo City Sports Academy to an exciting 3-3 draw.
This evening Buffalo City Sports Academy face Conquerors at 8pm at North End.
Imonti Christian Centre moved five points clear at the top of the East London Central John Korkiesponsored First Division logstandings after they beat Alphen Warriors 3-2 on Saturday at North End.
Second-placed Millan thrashed Diaroma United 8-1, while Leeds United climbed up into third place after a 1-0 win against Brothers of Peace U20. Central United were held to a 2-2 draw by Prides U20 and Real Dukashe and F C East London also shared the spoils in a 1-1 stalemate.
This evening at the North End Stadium Central United face Riverside U20 at 6.30pm and tomorrow evening Brothers of Peace U20 cross swords with Imonti Christian Centre at 6.30pm, while Alphen Warriors host Millan at 8pm.