Young bucks prove hit as Leeds mark anniversary show
THE LEEDS United club hosted a highly successful six-day Youth Football Tournament at the North End Stadium concluding on Tuesday (Workers Day).
Leeds, the East London Central Local Football Association (ELCLFA) affiliated team, hosted the tournament for U10, U12, U14 and U16 age groups to celebrate their 40th anniversary.
It was the second such anniversary youth football tournament in this region following Pefferville United’s successful 20th anniversary event last year.
The Leeds tournament received tremendous support from parents and the football fraternity with each day drawing huge crowds.
Merchants stunned all by winning the U10 knockout event when they beat hosts and pre-tournament favourites Leeds 3-2 on penalties in a thrilling final watched by a capacity crowd. The match ended goalless after 90 minutes.
The Merchants young guns were heavy underdogs before the event but superb mentorship from the likes of ex-Merchant and Border football greats Calvin Lazarus, Brendan Hendricks, Hillary Lawrence, Ralton Naina and excellent administrative support from Gino and his spouse Nadia Abrahams saw the side surprise the football fraternity by winning the prized silverware.
Merchants’ Caydin Lazarus saw his excellent performances in defence deservedly earn him the U10 Player of the Tournament award.
It was déjà vu for heavy underdogs Riverside U12s who were inspired by ex-Riverside and Saints legend Selwyn Morrisson when they emulated the Merchants brigade by recording a shock 1-0 win in the U12 cup final against favourites Atletico. Sophumla Sikundla (Riverside) received the U12 player of the tournament award.
In another exciting final, which ended 2-2 at fulltime, Pefferville-based Central United held their nerve to annex the U14 trophy 4-3 on penalties against Braelyn United. Central United’s Lorenzo Joubert was the U14 player of the tournament.
Kelly Smith’s Riverside once again reigned supreme in the U16 contest when they beat Pefferville United 2-0 in the final to retain the U16 knockout trophy they won last season. Ricardo Meyers (Riverside) was voted the U16 Player of the Tournament. Akhona Hlithani was voted the match official of the tournament.
Central LFA will this week introduce the first ever Beach Soccer concept in the region when it hosts the inaugural Buffalo City Metropolitan Municipality (BCMM) four-team Provincial Beach Soccer Tournament at the Orient Beach.
The event on Saturday will feature an ELCLFA representative squad, Eastern Cape squad, Nelson Mandela Bay and BCMM squads.
Safa-National Beach Soccer coach Ntokozo Bhengu will be in attendance and together with events coordinators Zuko Ndebele and Khotso Kobo will have roadshows at various schools in the region this week to promote the beach soccer concept.
Central vice-president and head of youth affairs and beach soccer, Vuyo Zambodla was very excited about this new venture.
“Beach Soccer is attracting a global audience and is hugely popular in other countries. Our focus after this weekend’s festival is to introduce an EL Central LFA senior league at the end of May with the primary aim to grow this initiative by including our youth structures. Buffalo City Municipal Metro is supporting this venture which augurs well for the future”, said Zambodla.