The City of Joburg continued its support for this year’s popular Maimane Alfred Phiri Games at Alex Stadium, which united the community.
The power of sport to drive nation building and social cohesion cannot be taken for granted.
Alexandra was buzzing as people flocked to the Alex Stadium to watch the soccer spectacular.
Driving to the stadium on those narrow streets, competition between cars and people meant that eyes should strictly be focused on the road and being streetwise.
Johannesburg Metro Police made it so possible to arrive exactly on time. The excitement and joyous mood was felt when entering the stadium. This was made possible by marshals and security personnel who manned their stations tactfully.
The Alex Stadium was well prepared to host more than 6 000 spectators. When the games were launched on 21 May 2019, Maimane Phiri, the former SuperSport United, Jomo Cosmos and Moroka Swallows midfielder promised that the 2019’s event was going to be bigger and better. All systems went well, so Phiri surely had his facts correct. The standard of the games and logistics were on point.
Spectators brought all the excitement as they cheered their favourite players who equally responded by giving the best that they could: good passes, dribbles, speed and ball control were exceptionally good. It was a kasi flavour kind of play.
Among those in attendance was the Banyana Banyana and Confederation of African Football Women’s National Team Coach of the Year for 2018, Desiree Ellis.
“I normally attend the community games in the country. This helps to scout for talent and get to understand how each player plays. When girls see us attending these games, they become motivated and challenge them to perform to the best of their abilities. The standard is generally improving and this gives us a wide scope to identify best players,” said Ellis.
The results were as follows:
Ladies Finals: Tshwane University of Technology vs First Touch, 2-1
Masters Finals: Real Sundowns vs Alex Mates, 4-1
Seniors finals: Boroka vs Lebash, 2-1. Boroka scooped the prize money of R190 000.
The three months sustainability of the games was made possible by the City of Johannesburg, Gauteng Provincial Government, Maimane Alex Development Foundation, Soweto Gold, Betway, African Meters Reading, Daily Sun, SuperSport, Boston College, Bayport and the Men’s Clinic International.
