It’s not about winning trophies

HAVING played the game for more than 40 years, Reggie Govender of Chatsworth, said some his best football memories were created during his trip to Sri Lanka in September.

Govender, 53, is a member of the Flames SA team.

This team for footballers Over 40, comprises players from around KwaZuluNatal. They participate in the annual international Goodwill Tournament.

The tournament, which is in its fifth year, is played among 10 teams from the Indian diaspora.

England, Italy, India and Mauritius are some of the other nations represented at the tournament.

“It’s not about winning a trophy, this tournament is about connecting with footballers of Indian origin from around the world and creating friendships.

“It is an awesome tournament and the atmosphere is great,” said Govender.

Having debuted at the Goodwill Tournament in 2017, which was hosted in Kerala, India, Govender was charged and ready for the Sri Lankan trip.

“Although our games were played 25-minutes a side, and in stifling-hot temperatures, the football was great.

“Our team was undefeated after three days of matches against all the participating teams.

“Too many drawn results saw us finishing in third place overall,” he said.

Being in peak physical condition has been the cornerstone of his long association with the game as a player.

And it enabled him to easily endure Sri Lanka’s scorching heat.

From the time Govender started playing competitive football, in his early teens, his position on the field has always been in the heart of defence.

His previous clubs included Marrianites, a team that featured in the Southern Natal Football Association’s “Coke” league during the 1980s, and Clairwood United.

Govender said his best days as an amateur footballer were the 12 seasons he spent with Chatsworth’s Montford Heights.

Some of his Montford Heights highlights included winning eight cups in one season and beating Merebank’s Colchester Rovers in a Clover Cup final at Curries Fountain.

During the early 1990s, Govender had a six-month spell with former Federation Professional League side Berea, when Prem Vayapuri was the coach.

Govender also had the rare distinction of playing alongside his son Keegan for SC Milan, a team that featured in Chatsworth’s Premier League in 2013.

After all his years in football, Govender said he still felt young, energetic and no closer to hanging up his boots.

“I will continue playing for as long my body allows me to. I’m looking forward to next year’s Goodwill Tournament in Singapore.”