The Virginia Sports Academy (VSA) won the third annual As’phelelanga U17 Soccer Tournament held in Parys at the Fezile Dabi Stadium.
The tournament was held from 14 to 16 June, honouring fallen freedom fighters.
A total of 16 teams from the Free State, Gauteng and North West participated, which included the Elite Athletics Sports Academy (Parys), the Tiki Taka Sports Academy (Potchesftroom) , the Vaal Gardens Sports Academy (Sebokeng), the Eleven Experience FC (Viljoenskroon) and the 2024 winners, Empire united (Parys).
Virginia started the tournament with a 7 – 0 win against Parys’ Saint German, and won every game without conceding a goal. In the final match, the VSA won 3 – 0 against Celta Academy from Evaton.
“It was the first time the VSA participated in this tournament, and won it,” says Ngakane Lekhoba, team manager.
The individual awards were:
■ Top goal scorer – Oageng Lebesane (six goals in four matches).
■ Goalkeeper of the tournament – Sello Mokhobo.
■ Player of the Tournament – Lehlohonolo Khanas.
■ Coach of the tournament – Pitso Mokoena.
“Winning this tournament comes as a moral boost for the upcoming national tournament, the Kloof High School National Soccer Tournament, that the team will participate in during the winter holidays,” Lekhoba says.
This tournament takes place in Durban between 27 and 29 June. They will also take part in the Brebner High School U17 Soccer Tournament in Bloemfontein from 16 to 19 July.
The team management are: Pitso Mokoena (head coach), Modise Liphoko (head of sport), Mahlomola Seleke (goalkeeper coach), Ngakane Lekhoba (team manager), and Sechaba Phakathi (media). The event organisers were Katleho Mthembu and Mojalefa Makhalanyane.
