SAAF Soccer Tournament: 24- 28 October 2005

Written by: Lt A. Matloa DCSS

The annual SAAF Soccer Championship was held at AF Gymnasium from 24-28 Oct 2005. This year’s event was unlike previous tournaments, because SAAF Women’s Team was selected from the two participating teams, AFB Waterkloof and the combined AFB Ysterplaat and AFB Langebaanweg women’s teams. Those selected proved themselves worthy to be in the SAAF Women’s Team by beating the better organised and stronger Pretoria SANDF Women’s Team 4-1 on the Friday, the game being a curtain raiser for the men’s final.

Twelve teams participated in the tournament. The format of the tournament was not changed from the pervious years. Teams were grouped into four streams - three teams per stream. In each stream teams played a round robin against each other. In each group two teams (first and second place) proceeded to the quarterfinals. Teams relegated during the round robin played against each other to play for the plate, and AFB Makhado was the winner in that Category.

Eventually, AFB Hoedspruit and AFB Langebaanweg played in the final.

AFB Hoedspruit defeated AF Gymnasium, and AFB Langebaanweg defeated AFB Waterkloof. AFB Hoedspruit played their final without the advantage of having replacements on the bench. Unfortunately, it was not to be for AFB Hoedspruit, and AFB Langebaanweg won 2-0, repeating their triumph of the 2004 SAAF Soccer Championships at AFB Ysterplaat.

VIP guests who attended the event included the Director of Football Development from SAFA, Mr Zola Dungwa, Maj Gen E.H. Dert, on behalf of Chief of the South African Air Force, Lt Gen C. Gagiano, GOC Maj Gen F.J. Labuschagne, Air Force Soccer Patron, Maj Gen N.L.J. Ngema, Director Education Training and Development, Brig Gen S.D. Mashobane, Director Operations Support and Intelligence Systems, Brig Gen L.J. Selepe, Director Corporate Staff Services, Brig Gen P.N. Sibiya, SSO PTSR, Col L. Potgieter, Officer Commanding AF Gymnasium, Col J. Ngwenya, and the Chairperson of the SANDF Soccer Team, Lt Col Poro.

The highlight of the tournament was when the patron of SAAF Soccer, Maj Gen N.L.J. Ngema, announced that the men’s SAAF Soccer team would be registered to the Vodacom league for the 2006/2007 season. Amongst the accolades that were awarded during the tournament were the Team of the Tournament (Men and Women), the Fair Play Team, the Player of the Tournament (Men and Women), the Top Goal Scorer of the Tournament (Men and Women), the Referee of the Tournament and the Most Improved Women’s Player.

The event would have not been successful without the support and assistance of the Officer Commanding AF Gymnasium, Col J. Ngwenya, the SAAF Command Council, Air Force Gymnasium Staff members, the great leadership of Chairperson Maj T.H. Oosthuis, the sponsorship of Auto Pedigree, the Head Committee and the members who contributed immensely to the overall planning and execution of the tournament

Lastly, the match officials (the referees and their assistants) should be thanked for the marvelous work that they rendered the entire week; it was not easy because of the hot climate in Gauteng. Thanks to the coaches, team managers and players for the discipline they displayed throughout the week, which was indeed meritorious. AD ASTRA wishes to say to them: keep up the great sportsmanship and sportswomanship spirit and take the discipline back to your units.