- The Soyisile Primary School U-14 soccer team clinched the championship title in the Metro East Education District (MEED) tournament, held in Blackheath.
- Coach Simphiwe Masiko praised the team’s hard work and highlighted their challenges with limited equipment, including a lack of soccer balls.
- Team captain Akhanyile Gqokonqana attributed their victory to teamwork and resilience, expressing pride in his team’s preparation.
Soyisile Primary School soccer u-14 boys put the name of the school on the map after being crowned the champions of Metro East Education District (MEED) tournament.
The contest was held at Blackheath Primary School in Blackheath last month.
Grade 6 teacher and coach Simphiwe Masiko described the victory as long overdue. He said they worked hard to be where they are. “We have our school league called Khayelitsha Cluster League, which comprises all schools in Khayelitsha. Our league started in June and ended in August.
“We became champs in that league. Then we proceeded to play for Champs of Champs on Friday 4 October, which were held at the Mandela Park Stadium.” He added that from there they proceeded to play a two-day MEED tournament in Blackheath on Thursday 17 and Friday 18 October, which they also won.
“MEED is a zonal tournament,” Masiko explained. “We were representing the Khayelitsha zone against Kraaifontein, Strand, Blackheath and Kuils River. We managed Blackheath 2-0 in the final and won the cup.”
However, he added, they were struggling with football equipment.
According to Masiko, his boys needed soccer balls and kits, and even the school playing ground was not in a good condition.
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The captain, Akhanyile Gqokonqana, said he was over the moon.
He praised his boys for showing resilience at the tournament.
“We worked very hard preparing for the tournament,” Akhanyile said. “But what helped us most was that we played as a team. We were supporting one another.”
