Ramatsiyi Moholoa

Mercedez Benz South Africa has donated R150000 to the yearly Easter development soccer tournament in East London, organised by the Buffalo City Local Football Association.

Dan Chetty, the association's chairman, said they were expecting 24 clubs from all over South Africa to participate in this tournament that starts tomorrow and ends on Monday.

"It's a pure development tournament for clubs campaigning in the SAB Regional League and local football associations," said Chetty.

"We have clubs from as far as Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Johannesburg and Durban coming to celebrate the Easter weekend by playing in this tournament.

"We will also have an under-15 tournament for clubs in East London.

"There will also a tournament for the masters. Participating teams are also from various parts of South Africa."

Up north, the inaugural Cell C Nakedi Lekota Soccer Challenge will be played in GaDikgale, near Polokwane from Friday until Monday.

"It's a social responsibility programme for me to start such a tournament for our clubs in GaDikgale," said Lekota, a Safa national executive committee member.

l The Niloli-Peace Lovers Easter Tournament will be played at Sebayeng municipal sports ground from tomorrow until Monday.

The tournament is sponsored by Percy Motimele, a Limpopo businessman who is the owner of Limpopo Vodacom League side Peace Lovers.

l In Lephepane, near Tzaneen, 16 teams will battle it out in the Lephepane Easter Tournament.

l Residents of Thabang village will also be treated to a soccer fest at the local ground when 16 teams battle it in the Thabang Hotspurs Easter Tournament.

l The Sammy Easter Tournament takes place at Turfloop sports ground.

l Sixteen teams will take part in the Kasi-Stars Easter Soccer Challenge at Muckleneuck Grounds in Mamelodi this weekend.

l In Mpumalanga, it's all systems go for the popular Safa Mpumalanga Cell C Easter Football tournament. - Additional reporting by Matome Lebea and Richard Nkosi