The Schoonbee Landgoed soccer team from Groblersdal in the Sekhukhune District in Limpopo won the bragging rights after bagging the Game of Stars title this year. The highly anticipated agri-worker football tournament, played with the FastFooty format, is definitely a highlight for agri-workers in the Limpopo region.
Willem van Jaarsveld, agricultural economist and farmer who’s been instrumental in putting this tournament together, says, “There is a definite improvement in the quality of play since the competition started last year (2018). The football played was entertaining, fast paced and exciting”.
The competition, hosted by Agri Limpopo and the Mark Fish Foundation, saw football teams from 41 farms across five provincial districts in Mzansi enter to join the finals hosted at the Ranch Resort in Polokwane.
The top competing teams from farms in the Capricorn, Mopani West, Vhembe, and Sekhukhane districts in Limpopo included Midway Fruits, Mockford Farms, Miami Canners, Mahela Group, Maroi Boerdery, Noordgrens Landgoed, Bavaria Fruit Estate, Richmond Kopano Farming, Schoonbee Landgoed, Rooiblom Landgoed.
Orlando Pirates legend Mark Fish congratulated the top team, Schoonbee Landgoed. Richmond Kopano placed second and Miami Canners from Letsitele placed third. “It was great to see the number of farmers that came out to support their teams, travelling all the way from Musina, Tzaneen and Hoedspruit,” Fish adds.
The top performing Game of Stars tournament players were selected to form a new team, AgriUnited.
These players will be coached at the Tuks High Performance Centre and play two friendly matches against SuperSport United at the Lucas Moripe Stadium next month.
According to Fish, the AgriUnited camp will focus on developing the players as individuals (both physically and mentally), teach them about teamwork on and off the field and create a spirit of sportsmanship. “I cannot wait to showcase rural talent and afford the 22 players with an experience that will stay with them for a lifetime,” says Fish.
Van Jaarsveld adds that this initiative continues to draw more participating farm teams. “I believe this initiative is going to keep on growing in Limpopo and eventually outside of Limpopo right across the rest of South Africa! A good idea should be shared! And this is one of the best ideas to share,” he exclaims.
