The Mzansi Games will take place in Soweto

RELATED LINKS: Goodwill galore as White City heroes toast complex THE White City soccer team, residents and fans gathered at the Jabavu Sports Complex to celebrate the team's triumph at the Godfrey Moloi Goodwill Games - a feat the players put down to their new, grassed field. Read more Soweto set for Goodwill Games THE annual Godfrey Moloi Goodwill Games are set to take place from 15 to 31 December at the Mapetla Sports Complex in Soweto. Read more Joburg is 'Soccer City' WITH some of the finest facilities on the African continent, the city of Johannesburg is more than ready and able to host the 2010 Fifa Soccer World Cup. Read more Selelekele High School wins on a penalty shootout THE annual KwaMahlobo Festive Games was again a huge success, with 40 teams vying for the championship. But Selelekele High School beat all comers to walk away the winners. Read more

Festive fun in Soweto includes the popular Mzansi Games

Get ready for the Mzansi Games Soccer is on the agenda in Soweto again, as teams prepare for the Mzansi Games. There is R20 000 up for the grabs for the winners. December 15, 2006 By Ndaba Dlamini NOT even the burning summer sun will keep soccer players and fans away when the Mzansi Games, an annual festive games event, kicks off on Sunday, 17 December at the Mapetla Sports Complex. Previously known as the Godfrey Moloi Goodwill Games, the games feature 20 soccer teams from Soweto and as far away as the Free State. For those who want to stretch their legs, a 10km fun run is also on the cards. This year's games are sponsored by Coca-Cola and the soccer teams will battle for the R20 000 first prize money. The games end on 31 December. They were started by the late Godfrey Moloi, aka The Godfather of Soweto, 26 years ago in a bid to "unite the people of Soweto". A township socialite, Moloi passed away in 1998 after establishing himself as a leading businessman in the region. "The majority of the soccer teams come from surrounding townships like Mapetla, Chiawelo, and Phiri. Competition will be tougher than ever this year because of the quality of squads assembled," says Mzasi Games Solutions' deputy chairperson, Jingles Mashabela, the organisers of the games. Last year, the men's soccer trophy was won by Sophiatown. This year the winners of the men's soccer tournament will take home a R20 000 cheque, and the runners up will get R10 000. Those that come third and fourth will take home R5 000 and R2 500 respectively. The 10km fun run will take place at the Mapetla Sports Complex on 24 December. "This year netball will not be featured, but hopefully netball teams will battle it out next year … We are also planning to feature a tennis tournament that will be part of Mzansi Games next year. [It] will be called the Mzansi Open," Mashabela says. The entry fee for the men's soccer tournament is R1 000 per team. The fun run is free. To enter your team and for more information, contact Jingles Mashabela on 083 992 8842. Permission to use web site material Publishers may use material from this site free of charge, as long as: Credit is given to either the "City of Johannesburg website (www.joburg.org.za)" or to "Johannesburg News Agency (www.joburg.org.za)"; If the article is used online, a link is provided to the original article on this website; The name of the article's author is acknowledged; The webmaster is informed of how and where the material is used (fill in this brief online form). Johannesburg News Agency is operated by BIG Media at 011-484-1400 Print this Page Send an online postcard E-mail this article to a friend Help using Joburg.org.za