Soweto outfit Super United FC are the 2018 champions of the annual Maimane Alfred Phiri (MAP) football festival.
Soweto Super United beat KwaZulu Natal side Newcastle Mighty Birds FC with one goal from Sababo Monikela to claim victory at the Alexandra Stadium in final. The match was televised live on SuperSport 4.
The City of Johannesburg is one of the sponsors of the festival, an annual soccer tournament aimed at unearthing raw football talent in South Africa, moved into a higher gear at the weekend with the staging of the finals round at Alex Stadium in Alexandra, Region E on Sunday, 22 July 2018.
This year’s MAP edition which was dubbed “the celebration of sport” and played under the theme of “No to gender-based violence and no to racism”.
The festival, the brainchild of former Bafana Bafana and Moroka Swallows midfielder Maimane Alfred Phiri, were also supported by sponsors such as MTN South Africa, the Gauteng Gambling Board and the new beer on the block Soweto Gold.
Other partners include Africa Meter Reading, Daily Sun, Umso Construction and Engineering, Alex FM, Rand Water, Men’s Clinic International and Boston City.
Matches for the senior’s division began on Saturday, 30 June 2018 at the Rotary Grounds in Alexandra. Before turning professional, players including Lebohang Manyama, Joseph Molangoane, Sifiso Myeni and Bongani Zungu graced the MAP competition.
MAP games have grown from strength to strength since the inception of the games back in 2001. Now the games include other codes that have enabled many to participate. This year’s finals were attended by about 15 000 people.
“Every year people look forward to this event where we bring the whole of Alexandra to a standstill. For the first time, the senior men’s final was broadcasted live on Supersport,” said a proud Phiri.
