Football legend remembered at finals
THE football fraternity paid tribute to a legend of Chatsworth football when the Ravi Govender Memorial Junior KO Cup finals were held at the Road 1016 grounds recently.
Govender was one of the best goalkeepers of his era, having played in the professional ranks with Manning Rangers, Tongaat Crusaders and Maritzburg United during the 1970s and 1980s, after he started with Kingston FC.
“He proved to be a ‘keeper who would have comfortably held his own in any league in the world had such opportunities been available in his time,” said his brother, Jace Govender, who also serves as Safa Chatsworth public relations officer.
“Ravi had a deep passion for the development of the game and had a gift for working with young players, and so it was fitting that the tournament bearing his name proved to be a resounding success. It will be an annual event.”
In the finals, Moorcross Sporting took the under-13 honours. With Thando Ngwenya in bright form, Sporting beat Bayview United 2-0.
In the under-15 final, Havenside Sporting beat Meadford Sporting 3-0 to maintain their fine season. The under-11 final between Dimes United and Manning Rangers was a close-fought affair.
The rising star of Dimes, Angelo Naidoo, caught the eye with his fine performances and scored the only goal of the game.
The under-7 final, the most anticipated game of the day, resulted in a 2-0 win for Summerfield Dynamos against Dimes United, with sharp shooter Quinton Scrinnger bagging a brace.
Summerfield under- 9 matched their under- 7 counterparts by winning their final against Manning Rangers with a solitary goal from Junior Ndlovu.
In the under-17 final Joshua Pather, named player of the tournament, helped Bayview United to a 2-0 win over a gutsy Crossmoor Crusaders team.
Pather was proving to be one of the most exciting prospects to come out of Chatsworth in a long time, said Govender. “He turned in a scintillating performance, which proved to be the difference against the well-drilled Crossmoor Crusaders team.”
Safa Chatsworth chairman Spinx Kuppen was excited about the quality on show.
“The standard and passion shown by clubs and their players was truly inspiring and we are confident that our junior structure will ultimately yield players for the professional ranks. It’s fitting that this tournament has had such a positive effect on our children, as this was always the aim of the late Ravi Govender,” added Kuppen.
He thanked Govender’s family for their sponsorship and the Safa Chatsworth team for their organisation of the event.