The tournament, organised by the Concordia Sport Development Committee (CSDC) and held with the support of the municipality, aims to encourage ladies to take part in the beautiful game for various reasons.
Chairman of the CSDC Romeo Daniels said that development of youth through sport is the organisation’s main objective. "By getting our youth actively involved in all sport codes, we are able to divert them from a life of crime, alcohol and drug abuse and even unwanted teen pregnancies."
Mayor Bouw-Spies said that she felt honoured to have the tournament share her name. "This new tournament will bring our mothers and sisters together on the sport field where they will be granted the opportunity to compete as sportswomen, and I am honoured to be connected in name to a competition of this nature."
Chairperson for the Community Service Committee Nompumelelo Koti said she believed a certain level of competition to be a good thing. "It teaches us to have respect for our competitors, it teaches us perseverance and determination and it teaches us to recognise our limits. It also teaches us the value of teamwork.
"Congratulations to the winners of the tournament and to those who did not leave with the main trophy; come back next year and show your competitors that you have learnt more, practised more and are ready to do battle again!" Koti concluded.
The Concordia Ladies Spurs won this first annual tournament, while the Cross Roads Girls from Hornlee finished in second place, the Red Eagle Girls from Concordia third and the African Eagles from Rheenendal fourth.
The community of Rheenendal was thrilled to have the first Eleanore Bouw-Spies Knysna 2010 Women’s Football Tournament played on their sport field. Mayor Bouw-Spies (centre) was there to open the proceedings, along with Ward Councillor Lawrence Jule (to her right).
