MOSSEL BAY NEWS - The 37th annual Great Brak River World Cup drew a large crowd to watch an exciting final match between Italy and Jamaica yesterday evening, 3 January .
The World Cup, which is held over five days at the Wolwedans Stadium, and the finals held at Green Haven Stadium, sees Great Brak soccer players divided into eight teams, under various countries' names.
People from the Great Brak community flooded into the stadium yesterday evening to first watch the plate final between Portugal and South Africa. Portugal won the match 3 - 1.
In the finals, Italy and Jamaica competed against each other, with Italy winning the World Cup 4 - 1. The man of the match was Shane Meyer.
Richard Wesso, who has been the MC of the event since its very first tournament 37 years ago, said it was started by several students in Great Brak River who wanted to put an end to gangs and crime in the area.
The founders, Ashwin Roelfse, Wayne Abrahams, Angus Volkwyn, Cobie Erasmus, Anthony de Vos, Romie-Lynn Volkwyn, Natasha Wesso, Astrid Erasmus and Roy Volkwyn, formed the Brak Student Congress and called a meeting with the gang leaders in the area.
The meeting resulted in everyone agreeing to take any issues they had with each other and resolve it on the sports field, at the World Cup.
However, Wesso said that today, the tournament is all about bringing the community together and uniting them in the love of sport.
"It is a fun day for the family. Everyone enjoys the spirit at these games. People connect and build friendships," he said.
Randy Wesso, the acting secretary for the World Cup said the short-term goal is to register it as an NPO.
"This will ensure that the World Cup management committee can assist the players, students in the community, as well as various previously disadvantaged people in Great Brak River," said Wesso.
"Furthermore, the goal is for local businesses to buy into the tournament. And lastly, the dream would be to live stream all 18 games, so the world can see the vibrant atmosphere and talent of this beautiful town," he said.
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