Football-crazy Bay scholars gun for Guinness World Record

A Gqeberha high school is going for goal with a new Guinness World Record attempt for the longest uninterrupted fivea-side soccer match.

The team of 16 players from Theodor Herzl High School in Walmer have been training tirelessly since September with the intention of playing uninterrupted for 77 hours from this coming Sunday to Wednesday next week.

The school’s sports department head, Jason Hyam, said though Theodor Herzl was a strong academic school, it was also important to emphasise the value of sport and incorporate it into the pupils’ high school careers.

“When I approached the pupils, 50 wanted to be part of the programme, but unfortunately we could only take eight per side,” he said.

For the world record attempt, two teams will play against each other — 16 pupils in total.

At any one time, five pupils will be on the pitch, with the other three players per team resting in anticipation of being rotated for their turn.

The school has roped in 52 volunteers, half of them pupils, to assist with the preparations for the marathon match.

Hyam said the most exhausting aspect of the record attempt was setting up the fivea-side soccer court and putting up the lights.

Fortunately, the school had great sponsors who assisted with funds for the court, lights and sports kit.

“The principal, Viktor Kurz, and the parents have been very supportive.

“We have also managed to send 17 pupils to do a level 1 and 2 accredited referee course with the South African Football Association Board [in preparation for the event].

“My philosophy is simple, I believe in building relationships,” he said.

“You build strong bonds and you will be able to guide and mentor your team to become more well-rounded adults.”

Hyamsaid the participants in the lengthy record attempt would have scheduled nutrition breaks.

He said given the passion for soccer among the pupils, the school’s staff believed the initiative would be a great way to teach them about resilience, hard work and achieving their goals.

“We felt like not all the kids of today can be able to be resilient and hardworking, we thought it would be a good activity to do which is also educational,” he said.