By REGINALD KANYANE
Ditsobotla Local Football Association (DILFA) chairperson, Thebe Sekoto said grassroots games play a pivotal role in developing football, especially in rural areas. This comes after the DILFA held Easter Football Tournament at Itsoseng Stadium in Itsoseng during Easter weekend.
Bianca Academy Football Club has crowned champions of the Ditsobotla Local Football Association (Dilfa) Easter Football tournament on Monday. The Blydeville-based club reigned supreme as they thumped Florentina 2-0 in a thrill-a-minute senior men’s final.
“In partnership with AfriSam, Dilfa marked the 2nd anniversary of the annual tournament with yet another successful event, a competition which featured as many as 800 participants from local communities.
“Florentina were not the only winners on the day. Madibe Ladies edged Bianca Academy 3-1 on penalties to claim the senior women’s cup. In the boys U-19 final, Scottish from Blydeville took honours with a narrow 1-0 win over Mighty Blizzards from Itsoseng,” he said.
Sekoto further said in the Masters and Legends final, Brotherhood FC oldies from Klerksdorp defied age as they brushed aside Bafitlhile FC 3-1. He added that DILFA XI crashed AfriSam United 5-2 in an invitational clash.
The tournament was graced by dignitaries and scouts including South African Football Association (SAFA) honorary president, Prof Lesole Gadinabokao including Safa North West president David Molwantwa.
Gadinabokao said: “Talent identification is at the heart of football development. The growth of this tournament is important for football in the community. We have seen lots of talent throughout the tournament and I’m certain the scouts would have been impressed by what they’ve seen.
“I’d like to see more and more players coming out of the province and enroll in academies. In that way, we will grow our talent pool and this will benefit our national teams, including Bafana Bafana and Banyana Banyana.”
Meanwhile, the AfriSam General Manager Vishal Aniruth has commended the organisers for the successful event, pointing to its impact on grassroots football in disadvantaged communities.
“We are happy with the tournament success held, looking forward these type of tournaments where we can go to the grassroots and reach more young players, both girls, and boys. Tournaments like this help to elevate them to the national teams.
“Talent identification remains a key driver during this tournament with a sole purpose to unearth raw talent and expose it particularly amongst women and U19 players,” said Aniruth.
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