Nafa gears up for bigger Easter soccer showpiece

THE Northern Areas Football Association (Nafa) is gearing up for the Easter tournament after the draw at the Nafa Hall, Gelvan Grounds, on Wednesday.

The 43rd annual tournament has been expanded and will include teams from the Vodacom and Castle leagues, who had been ruled out in the competition previously.

Teams from Uitenhage and Cape Town will join the lineup this year.

The renowned tournament will have 20 teams and 300-odd players in the senior event.

“Running a tournament for 43 years is not easy and that is why Nafa is constantly faced with the pressure of introducing new ideas to the tournament to keep the people interested,” committee member Vincent Heinz said.

Nafa president Clive Kilian said: “The tournament has become part of the DNA of the northern areas community and we pride ourselves with the positive outcomes it has with the youth.

“We need more knowledgeable coaches who have the skill of identifying talented players.

“This competition works hand in hand with giving youth a healthy lifestyle,” Kilian said.

“It seeks and breeds excellence, while it also deters from the bad activities in these poverty stricken communities.”

Valentine Brink, a legend of the tournament, said it had grown in leaps since its establishment.

“The young men in the Easter tournament get an incredible amount of exposure,” Brink said.

The event starts on April 14.

The senior draw is:

Group A: Glenville, Stardrift, Swallows, Bay City Group B: West Lake, Fairview, Wolves, Mfuleni Pirates Group C: Hellenvale, Fairdene, Celtic, Rangers Group D: Park United, Black Pool, Bloom Callies, NMMU Group E: Saints, Hotspurs, Ebenezer, Sibanye Electrics.