Linda Moreotsene

Linda Moreotsene

The week-long schools tournament organised by Thato Ntsoelengoe in memory of Patrick Ace Ntsoelengoe drew to a close on Saturday having achieved what it set out to do.

This is the view of Ntsoelengoe, widow of the former football great whose foundation - the Patrick Ace Ntsoelengoe Foundation - and various other stakeholders put on the tournament in Kagiso.

"I understood his passion for football development and am thrilled that we took the time to train our focus on young boys, whose future Ace was always concerned about," said Ntsoelengoe.

Girls were also included, with netball matches also taking place at the centre. An unusual feature of this tournament was the participation of previously whites-only schools in Kagiso, in the interests of integration.

"For us, getting involved in paying homage to a legend like Ace is obviously a good thing, but there are positive spinoffs for all stakeholders. We hope the partnership can grow from strength to strength and we will expand to other codes next year," said Denton Viljoen, the Department of Education's head of sports.

Orlando Pirates Under-14 player Lorenzo Gordinho said he found that in his first experience at a township, the type of soccer played, with its short passes and mobile players, was not very different from what he was used to at his academy.

After a goalless 90 minutes, the Under-17 final between Madiba beat Mosupatsela secondary schools went to penalties, which Madiba won 8-7.

Sehlolamathe primary beat Tsakane 4-0 to take the boys Under-13 title.

Khululekani beat Atlholang primary school in the netball Under-13 final. Hoërskool Monument beat Mosupatsela Secondary to the Under-17 title.