January 16, 2006
By Tshepiso Seopa
ALL roads led to KwaMahlobo High School on Saturday, 14 January. The sound of vuvuzelas could be heard across Meadowlands Zone 10 as hundreds of soccer fans descended on the school's dusty soccer field for the finals of the annual KwaMahlobo Festive Games.
By the time the referee blew the whistle signalling the start of the first semi-final, spectators had already filled the "stands" to capacity.
In that match, Selelekele High School beat Diepkloof Siyabangelela 5-4 on penalties. Two local teams, Meadowlands Highlands and Meadowlands Haaibo, played in the second semi-final; Highlands won 1-0, pitting them against Selelekele in the final.
Highlands were the first to score 15 minutes into the game, much to the delight of the crowds. But Selelekele came from behind to score the equaliser in the 80th minute, and the championship had to be decided on penalties.
And the Orlando team won 5-4 after a penalty shootout, bringing instant silence to Meadowlands.
"Our game plan was to keep [piling on the] pressure and attack in numbers. We knew that if we did that their defence would track at some point," said Selelekele High School captain Sandile Mkhonazi.
The team will use its R15 000 prize money to help the revival of soccer in Orlando, starting with mobilising the learners at the school.
"In the team that played in the tournament, we did not have even one player who is a learner at the school," Mkhonazi said. "All of the players are former learners at the school.
"We are very honoured to have played and won for the school that made us what we are today.
"Our plan now as veterans of Selelekele High School is to pull Orlando back to its former glory. People like Jomo Sono come from Orlando; we feel that it is up to us to continue with the legacy," Mkhonazi said.
"We want to see the learners of Selelekele coming to defend the title in the next tournament. Orlando should be the home of this trophy from now on."
Meadowlands Highlands went home with a cheque of R5 000, a trophy, silver medals and a soccer kit. Diepkloof Siyabangelela and Meadowlands Haibo each won R1 000 and a soccer kit.
"We are very happy with the way the tournament proceeded," said Dlogolo Ntejwa, the public relations officer for the KwaMahlobo Festive Games.
The new champions of the KwaMahlobo festive games celebrate their win
"Now we, as the organisers, have to go to the drawing board and plan for the Easter games and the next festive games. It is clear from the support that the fans have given us that people want the games.
"Even though we don't have sponsors, the tournament is growing bigger every year. When the games started in 1997, we only had four teams; today that number has risen to 40, which shows the way our people love soccer."
Brian "Macarina" Gafane received a trophy and a certificate from the organisers. Gafane was recently selected for the Bafana Bafana provisional team that will play in the 2006 African Nations Cup in Egypt.
The KwaMahlobo grounds are dry and rough with no lawn and no grand stands for spectators; it is a case of bring your own chair – anything from a crate, bench or a brick.
The tournament kicked off on 24 December 2005, with 40 soccer teams playing in the knockout stages of the competition.
