THE Soweto and Local Football Association has created a new tournament to help create a vibe for the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Known as the Soweto Afcon Final, the tournament will feature 16 teams that will representing various townships.
It will kick off on Sunday at Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville.
Gauteng MEC for sport Lebogang Maile has endorsed the tournament.
Association president Phil "Chippa" Mogodi said they would use tomorrow's international friendly between Bafana and Algeria to mobilise support for Afcon.
"We appreciate the support of MEC Maile who bought into the idea when we explained that we wanted to create awareness for the Afcon tournament.
"We had a similar awareness campaign during the 2010 Fifa World Cup and it was a resounding success.
"The people of Soweto are passionate about soccer. We know that they will also go out to support Bafana Bafana and the other countries in the tournament.
"We created this tournament because the only Afcon fixtures to be played in Gauteng will be the opening and final matches."
Mogodi said the Soweto tournament would use the Afcon format.
"The 16 teams will be divided into four groups. The teams will adopt the names of countries participating in the Afcon tournament.
"They will play three group matches and the two top teams in each group will qualify for the quarterfinals. They will then use a knockout system. The final will be played at the Nike Centre on February 9, a day before the Afcon final," said Mogodi.
The four groups are:
Group A
Angola (Protea South, Protea North and Protea Glen to extension 4), Cape Verde (Green Village, Naledi and Emndeni), Morocco (Protea Glen extension 11 to 16, Lefhureng and Glen Rich), South Africa (Tladi, Moletsane and Jabulani);
Group B
DR Congo (Dobsonville, Bramfischerville, Snake Park), Ghana (Orlando East, Orlando West, Nomzamo Informal Settlement and Phefeni), Mali (Zola, Zondi and Jabulani Hostel), Niger (Klipspruit, Chicken Farm and Nancefield Hostel);
Group C
Burkino Fasso (White City Jabavu, Rockville, Central Western Jabavu and Molapo), Ethiopia (Dlamini, Chiawelo and Fox Lake), Nigeria (Mapetla, Phiri and Senaoane), Zambia (Diepkloof all extensions and Motsoaledi Informal Settlement);
Group D
Algeria (Meadowlands, Mzimhlophe and Mzimhlophe Hostel), Ivory Coast (Freedom Park, Aeroton, Devland and Naturena, Togo (Pimville, Kliptown and Klipspruit West), Tunisia (Dube, Mofolo North, Mofolo Central, Mofolo Village and Mofolo South).
Soweto stages own Afcon final
THE Soweto and Local Football Association has created a new tournament to help create a vibe for the 29th edition of the Africa Cup of Nations finals.
Known as the Soweto Afcon Final, the tournament will feature 16 teams that will representing various townships.
It will kick off on Sunday at Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville.
Gauteng MEC for sport Lebogang Maile has endorsed the tournament.
Association president Phil "Chippa" Mogodi said they would use tomorrow's international friendly between Bafana and Algeria to mobilise support for Afcon.
"We appreciate the support of MEC Maile who bought into the idea when we explained that we wanted to create awareness for the Afcon tournament.
"We had a similar awareness campaign during the 2010 Fifa World Cup and it was a resounding success.
"The people of Soweto are passionate about soccer. We know that they will also go out to support Bafana Bafana and the other countries in the tournament.
"We created this tournament because the only Afcon fixtures to be played in Gauteng will be the opening and final matches."
Mogodi said the Soweto tournament would use the Afcon format.
"The 16 teams will be divided into four groups. The teams will adopt the names of countries participating in the Afcon tournament.
"They will play three group matches and the two top teams in each group will qualify for the quarterfinals. They will then use a knockout system. The final will be played at the Nike Centre on February 9, a day before the Afcon final," said Mogodi.
The four groups are:
Group A
Angola (Protea South, Protea North and Protea Glen to extension 4), Cape Verde (Green Village, Naledi and Emndeni), Morocco (Protea Glen extension 11 to 16, Lefhureng and Glen Rich), South Africa (Tladi, Moletsane and Jabulani);
Group B
DR Congo (Dobsonville, Bramfischerville, Snake Park), Ghana (Orlando East, Orlando West, Nomzamo Informal Settlement and Phefeni), Mali (Zola, Zondi and Jabulani Hostel), Niger (Klipspruit, Chicken Farm and Nancefield Hostel);
Group C
Burkino Fasso (White City Jabavu, Rockville, Central Western Jabavu and Molapo), Ethiopia (Dlamini, Chiawelo and Fox Lake), Nigeria (Mapetla, Phiri and Senaoane), Zambia (Diepkloof all extensions and Motsoaledi Informal Settlement);
Group D
Algeria (Meadowlands, Mzimhlophe and Mzimhlophe Hostel), Ivory Coast (Freedom Park, Aeroton, Devland and Naturena, Togo (Pimville, Kliptown and Klipspruit West), Tunisia (Dube, Mofolo North, Mofolo Central, Mofolo Village and Mofolo South).
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