Beach soccer events a success
EAST London Central Local Football Association, in a partnership with Buffalo City Metro, hosted the firstever four-team senior provincial beach soccer festival at the Orient Beach on Saturday.
The inaugural event was attended by, among others, Safa national beach soccer coach and development officer Ntokozo Bhengu, EL Central honorary life president Zola Dunywa, Kuhle Ciliza ward 1 councillor and BCM Sports Council Committee member Kuhle Ciliza, BCM head of portfolio, BCM Sports Council member and PR Xolani Witbooi, MultiSports Development CEO, Beach Soccer Premier League Competitions games convenor and Nikkita Sports Academy director Kgotso Kobo, and BCM sports senior manager Manelisi Lwana.
This comes a day after the first highly successful schools beach soccer tournament in this region was hosted by the two parties. The tournament was won by Parkside Primary School and Kusile High School respectively. In Saturday’s action, the Eastern Cape provincial squad ended victorious when they beat East London Central 7-5 in a thrilling cup final.
East London Central vice-president and head of beach soccer and youth affairs Vuyo Zambodla was full of praise for the excellent work done by coordinators Zuko Mdebelele, who is also the Multi-Sports Development chairman, Beach Soccer Premier League president and a Fifa beach soccer-accredited coach and instructor, as well as Khotso Kobo, in contributing to making these two events a success.
East London Central will now introduce the first ever senior beach soccer league competiton at the end of May. The senior tournament winners, were:
Player of the tournament: Charles Gallagher.
Top goalscorer: Ashes Bhayi Msuthu Mxakato.
Goalkeeper of the tournament: Elroy Geach.
Team of the tournament: Hostel FC (and bronze medals).