First Freedom Day Soccer Tournament held

Gallery Video

MOSSEL BAY NEWS & VIDEO - The KwaNonqaba Police Station and several role players hosted the first Freedom Day Soccer Tournament at the Extension 23 sports grounds in Mossel Bay on Wednesday, 27 April.

Nine schools competed in the tournament. The nine teams consisted of players up to the age of 14 years. Out of the nine schools competing in the competition, Isalathiso Primary took the honours and won the tournament.

After scripture reading and prayer by Sgt Lubabalo Baleni and Chaplin Bhana, Warrant Officer Kappie Kapp introduced Shadrack Shishana, KwaNonqaba Community Policing Forum chairman. Shishane said that to keep youngsters from drugs and other mischief, he decided to open the tournament to not just local, but all other schools.

PHOTO GALLERY: Soccer Tournament on Freedom Day

Glen Jansen from the Education Department got the boys to say "hoo haa" from the New Zealand All Blacks' Haka.

"The most critical investment we can make as a society is to invest in education and to invest in people. But the most important is to invest in the youth," Jansen concluded.

PHOTO GALLERY: Freedom Day Soccer Tournament

Brigadier Belinda Pather said in her speech that the word, freedom, had a different meaning for each individual. She also said never to quit, no matter what your circumstances.

VIDEO: First Freedom Day soccer tournament

In his keynote speech the mayor, Alderman Dirk Kotzé, said there are many challenges and much competition in our country but he encouraged the players to grab opportunities.