WITH the aim of ensuring that young players are nurtured and afforded the opportunity to display their skills, Jomo Cosmos will host a nine-day Under-23 Top 8 tournament from Friday.

The Jomo Cosmos Super 8 Tournament will be hosted at the team's training facility - near Rand Stadium, Johanneburg - until February 3.

Last year the inaugural Jomo Cosmos Truck Centre Youth Soccer Tournament was a huge success, with winners picking up trophies, medals and award certificates.

Ezenkosi head of development Andrew Rabutla said yesterday the major aim of the Super 8 idea was to encourage up-and-coming players and give them a platform to showcase their talent.

Rabutla said: "We believe that through this tournament more talent will be nurtured and exposed to other professional clubs. This is the second in a series of tournaments lined up to unearth fresh talent and promote the Cosmos brand, which is renowned for spotting and nurturing soccer stars.

"The winners will be presented with a glittering trophy and R4000, while the runners-up and outstanding individual performers are guaranteed medals and recognition.

"We are confident that the youngsters will get proper exposure because we expect talent scouts throughout the tournament.

"The fact that we have moved from the Youth Tournament to the Top 8 shows that we have moved a step up. This will also afford National First Division clubs an opportunity to grab players as they are forced to field five under-23 players in their starting line-ups."

Participating teams are: Central Johannesburg, Killarney Motswako, Soweto FC, Tswelopele FC, Ambassadors, Black Poison FC and Polokwane City Rovers.