GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - Junior soccer coaches and their teams gathered at the Masizakhe Stadium on Monday to celebrate Mandela Day.

Khwezi Xalisa, coach of the Jose Mourinho Soccer Club said that they wanted to play soccer to celebrate the life and times of Tata Madiba.

"We love to see our kids play soccer from an early age. They do not have anything to keep the youngsters entertained, but their love of the game. The kids spent the whole day at the stadium without anything to eat or drink until the Nur A Hanifa Foundation came to help. They supplied the players with a hot meal."

Liton Miah, director of the Foundation in Graaff-Reinet was accompanied by SAPS Lt Col Moira Abrahams, warrant officer Valda Paint and constable Zukisani Rala (community police officer).

Akhanani Witbooi (14) of the Dangerous Darkies Football Club, could not hold his smile when he received football boots from Abrahams. She saw the young player playing with his sandals and she decided to fetch the pair of boots and gave it to him.

Kutley Bosman and Daniello Saptou (of Birds) tackling Olwethu Ketelo of Jose Mourinho.

Results:

u.11

• Birds United FC 0 - 1 Dangerous Darkies FC

u.13

• Jose Mourinho FC 1 - 1 Dangerous Darkies FC

Zukisani Rala and Lt Col Moira Abrahams who donated football boots to Akhanani Witbooi (middle), an u.15 player of Dangerous Darkies FC.

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