Football followers in Soweto are excited at the news that the annual Clinix Stix Morewa Soccer Challenge is returning to the fields after a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
The 2022 edition was launched at the Clinix SK Matseke Hospital in Diepkloof, Soweto and was attended by football heavyweights including SA Football Association (Safa) CEO Tebogo Motlanthe, football legends Teboho Moloi (Orlando Pirates) and Ntsie Maphike (Kaizer Chiefs), Banyana Banyana midfielder and African champion Nomvula Kgoale and Safa Soweto president Phil “Chippa” Mogodi.
The family of the late Solomon “Stix” Morewa also attended the launch.
With the draw out of the way, action starts this weekend across Soweto and the final will be played on November 27 at the Shapa Soweto, formerly known as Nike Football Training Centre in Klipspruit.
Named in honour of the late Morewa, the former Safa president, the tournament is well-known for unearthing new football talent. Since 2004, thousands of teams from around the country have been battling it out annually for the coveted trophy.
Hungry Stars of Central Western Jabavu in Soweto were the last to be crowned champions in the 2019 edition after defeating a stubborn White City Spurs 4-3 on penalties after the match ended in a 1-1 stalemate.
“We are once again honoured as Safa Soweto to be hosting this magnificent event. Our aim is to ensure that football is played by all as you can see the age groups of the participants – but over and above that, the mission this year is to get football lovers into the World Cup vibe, despite it being played thousands of miles away in the Middle East,” said Mogodi, who has been with the tournament since inception.
“As a tournament, we continue nurturing and developing players so they can go and make a name for themselves elsewhere, and it gives us great joy to see so many of them have gone on to be successful after passing through these fields.”
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