Alexandria’s Bhongweni Primary victorious in U13 football event
Tournament final decided by penalty shootout after draw
Alexandria’s Bhongweni Primary School is the toast of the town after claiming silverware in the U13 Build It football tournament final against Port Alfred’s Kuyasa Combined School at a windswept Port Alfred High School grounds on Saturday September 16. Bhongweni won 2-1 on penalties.
Ekuphumleni Primary School, of Kenton-on-Sea claimed the girls’ netball trophy after beating CM Vellem Junior Secondary from Makhanda 5-2 in their final.
Bhongweni and Kuyasa could not be separated on the score sheet in the referee’s regulation time. The game went to penalties with Nkompo Shailiele, who was voted player of the tournament, converting the allimportant spot-kick to win the final for Bhongweni.
What made the victory sweeter was the fact that Bhongweni had lost in last year’s final — also on penalties. Coach Msumzi Tyala said the drive home from Port Alfred to Alexandria would be exciting and celebratory.
“I am feeling excited because it took us two years to build this team. We always progress to the finals, so us winning it in 2023, really is special,” he said. “We are very proud as our town is very small and the unemployment rate is too high. And by playing soccer, we are taking these kids off the streets because many of the young ones in our town are using drugs.”
Tyala, who is a full-time pastor, said preparation was important, as it was difficult to hold on to players.
“Quite a few players won’t make the U13s next year, so I already have six players ready to take their places for next year.
“Everybody in our neighbourhood will be waiting for our team now that they have won the cup. These kids are like my own children, I take them to church where I can … and I am using my own money to just to make sure I keep them off the streets.
“I take them as my own kids and I share everything with them. The bond is really special in the club. When they lost last year I cried with them but when they win I celebrate with them,” Tyala said.
Build It SA’s Les Pillay, who coordinates the tournament programme, said this year’s event drew 12 schools to the soccer festival. He explained how the idea for an U13 soccer tournament came about.
“In 2006, we sat around the table and tried to identify how to re-invest in the community that had helped us grow. What better way we thought than to engage with sporting events, and we started off with football.
“Soccer is the most popular sport in the country and the world, and doesn’t need a lot of capital for children to have a good time and to develop.
“We have included netball as well over the last five years,” he said.
“We started with a few tournaments in 2006 and today we run more than 230 tournaments in the country in a given year. Today alone we’ve got seven tournaments on the go throughout Southern Africa.
“Our important partners in this initiative is Safa,” Pillay said.
Pillay said that there have been many successes from the Build It tournament over the years.
“We have quite a few players who have gone on to play for AmaZulu and SuperSport United in the Premier Soccer League. Eswatini [Swaziland ] normally chooses their U15 side from our U13 national tournament, [where all the town winners come together for the national Build It title]. We’ve got eight players in the Eswatini national team that were identified from our Build It tournament.”
Manager of Kowie Build It, Jorrie Jordaan, who handed out the prizes, said despite the weather challenges experienced on the day, it was a highly successful tournament.
“All the schools pitched up with the exception of maybe one or two. Everyone enjoyed themselves. “This is a national tournament. “We combine three stores in the Swanepoel group and for us it’s a very special day because one can give back to the community to show them it’s good to participate in a team. We are developing them [youth] in sport and playing for this wonderful cup is becoming a household event.
“We are trying to get the customers and parents to get them involved and to come to the field and enjoy the games with us. The brand gets out there and the children are always looking forward to a day like this,” Jordaan said.