The Rep 9 February 2018.compressed

INSIDE: Top results at athletics meeting - PAGE 15
For sport news e-mail: sonjar@tisoblackstar.co.za (Deadline: Tuesdays at noon)Sp ort
Phoenix rules
mini tourney
ANDISA BONANI
PHOENIX Football Club won the
Under-13 mini soccer tournament
after they beat Young Stars FC
1-0 in the final at the Dumpy Adams
Stadium on Saturday.
Three teams battled it out at the
weekend to see who would emerge as
the winner.
Juluka FC took on Young Stars in
the first match, and were beaten 2-0.
Juluka dominated the game in the
first half but struggled to get the ball
LET’S DO THIS! Organiser
of the Great Trek MTB ride
from Komani to Morgan
Bay, Rob Jackson
Picture: MADELEINE CHAPUT
into the back of the net. After both
teams had regrouped and got advice
from their respective coaches, Young
Stars brought their A-game and
scored two goals, which automatically
granted them a spot in the final.
The final between Phoenix FC and
Young Stars saw a goal being scored
in the first half by Kamva Thanga of
Phoenix.
Kamva said he was happy to have
helped his team win the tournament
and, had it not been for a team effort,
they would have lost because Young
Stars were a great team. Phoenix
coach Ringo Klaas said the
tournament was good practise for all
the teams that participated, in
preparation for the Junior League,
which is set to start this month.
“I am very proud of all the teams
that played. This is not really a
competition but a means to motivate
children and help them hone their
skills. We celebrate with other teams,
even when we have lost to eliminate
jealousy and instill positive energy
among them,” Klaas said.
Excitement builds for
Great Kei Trek MTB Ride
MADELEINE CHAPUT
AFTER great excitement and anticipation,
the Great Kei Trek was officially launched
in East London last Thursday.
Over a festive meet-up at Country
Bumbkin, organiser Rob Jackson from the
Leverage Corporation and his local team
proudly introduced the three-day
Mountain Bike experience.
The stage race is set to take place
from April 28 to 30 and will cover a
total of 260km starting in Komani.
The two- rider team race will
see riders meander through
some of the Eastern Cape’s
forgotten gems including
Old Thomas River, the
Stutterheim forests and
Great Kei River Valley, before
ending in Morgan’s Bay.
“This area is one of the
most ignored parts of our
country, but it is beautiful
and we’re hoping to bring as
many people to this area,” said
Jackson, who grew up in Komani.
Focussng on the enjoyment of the ride
and the area, the race will not be timed
with the emphasis on having fun.
“I’ve wanted to do something like this
for a long time and I’m so glad that Rob
and the Leverage Corporation have the
same ambitions for this area,” route
planner and Stutterheim resident, Dean
Sheard, said.
Following the tradition of creating top
READY FOR KICK OFF: Phoenix FC Under-13 soccer team ready to take on Young
Stars in a mini tournament held at the Dumpy Adams Sports Complex on Saturday
Picture: ANDISA BONANI
class and high quality events, The
Leverage Corporation promises that this
will be a race like no other.
Riders are in for a true Eastern Cape
experience as various local farm owners
along the route have generously offered
access through their land. Cycling along
some of the old cattle and sheep passages
that farmers used in the first half of the
1900s, riders will be treated to the
interesting history of the area, with their
fist overnight stop in the historical village
of Old Thomas River.
The village is situated in the Northern
slopes of the Amatola mountain range,
where 19 farmers have made over 31 000
hectares of beautiful farmland available
for conservation and recreation. Some
other highlights will be the stunning Qacu
Forest Reserve, the impressive Chaba
Wind Farm and the Kubusie Valley.
“The Kubusie Valley cycle is one of the
most spectacular rides through a valley
that I have ever done,” said Sheard.
Riders will be provided with tented
accommodation and meals which is all
included in the entry fee. Entries close
once a field of 150 teams of two riders is
reached, or on April 4.
Various sponsors have come on board
in an effort to make the event one not be
missed. Sponsors include Bidvest,
Bridgestone, Luxliner, Splashworks portion
of the proceeds will be donated to various
Non Profit Organisations within the area.
To find out more visit the Great Kei Trek
website at w w w. g re a t k e i t re k . c o . z a
KINDNESS
IN
MOTION
THANK YOU: Hyundai
kindly sponsored kit
for Old Collegians,
with, from left, Colin
Kemp, Hyundai service
manager Patrick
Ramoo, OC chairman
Maxwell Levine and
John Roelfse
STARS: LItha Mgcoyi (above) and Eli van
Schoor (below) of Queen’s College scored
102 and 101 not out respectively for the U15A
XI vs the Northern Region this past weekend