The draw for this year’s Stanturf United Tournament of Dreams men’s and women’s soccer tournament took place at Cape Town Civic Centre, last Friday.

Speaking at the launch, LFA Mitchell’s Plain president, Gilbert Kruger commended the organisers for staging the fourth edition of the tournament due to kick off with women’s matches at 6.30pm on Tuesday November 19, at Meadowridge sports complex.

Group stage matches will be played at Meadowridge until Friday November 22 with the final two rounds of group games scheduled for Saturday November 23, at Rocklands sports field.

Knockouts and finals are scheduled for Sunday November 24, at Rocklands.

This year’s showpiece will feature the customary 32 teams in the men’ section and 16 the women’ section.

LFA Mitchell’s Plain calling on the City to upgrade sports facilities in Mitchell’s Plain during last Friday’s Tournament of Dream launch. Picture: Fuad Esack

Kruger said he has seen many tournaments move out of Mitchell’s Plain due to a lack of adequate facilities and called on the city to ensure facilities are up to standard.

“We’re sitting with10 000 footballers in Mitchell’ Plain, many clubs don’t have training facilities. When I say clubs, all of them have six to seven or eight teams per club. So you can understand magnitude of the volume and the strain fields take. So I appeal to councillors to help us in this regard. We really need to upgrade and provide better facilities for our kids,“ he said.

“Can you imagine what Mitchell’s Plain can produce, how many more Nasief Morrises, if we had proper facilities,” he said, referring to fellow guest speaker, the former Santos, Panathinaikos and Bafana player, and others, who hails from Mitchell’s Plain.

Guest speaker Nasief Morris delivers his keynote address at last Friday’s Tournament of Dreams launch. Picture: Conray Swail

From left, Kaylem Robson, Ntlonipho Bele and Kady Majiet during last Friday’s draw for the upcoming Tournament of Dreams. Picture: Fuad Esack

Tournament director Safwaan Arendse agrees, but added that playing some matches at Meadowridge is also an opportunity to promote a Mitchell’s Plain tournament, in other communities.

“Each year I am in awe of what we can achieve through team work and a common goal. I am immensely proud of this event, but also both humbled and grateful, he said.

Tournament director, Safwaan Arendse giving his vote of thanks at last Friday’s launch. Picture: Fuad Esack