Five days of football, youth development and community partnership culminated in Young Tigers FC being crowned champions of the inaugural Orange Farm Youth Development and Football Tournament after a 1-0 victory over Junior Stars FC in the final at Nhlapo Grounds, Lakeside Ext 2, on 4 July.
Held from 30 June to 4 July, the tournament was organised by Real Farmton Citizens FC in partnership with the Orange Farm Local Football Association (OFLFA) under the theme “Empowering the Youth Through Sport and Education.” The event provided young footballers with a platform to showcase their talent while promoting education, discipline and positive community engagement.
In the semi-finals, Young Tigers FC defeated Real Farmton Citizens FC 2-0, while Junior Stars FC edged Simunye FC 1-0 to secure a place in the final. Real Farmton Citizens FC claimed third place with a 3-0 victory over Simunye FC.
Final standings:
- Young Tigers FC – Champions
- Junior Stars FC – Runners-up
- Real Farmton Citizens FC – Third Place
Tournament organiser and Real Farmton Citizens FC Chairperson, Zolile Bafana Cengimbo, said the event was created to inspire young people through sport while opening doors to future opportunities.
“We are grateful to every club, volunteer, stakeholder and sponsor who made this tournament possible. Your support helped us create a platform that empowers young people through sport and education, and we look forward to making it even bigger in the years ahead,” said Cengimbo.
Fiber Time supported the tournament as the official match officials and stakeholder partner, providing 25 official shirts for match officials and daily catering for referees, tournament officials, invited guests and stakeholders throughout the five-day event.
AQuellé was the tournament’s official hydration sponsor, donating 234 bottles of Natural Still Water to keep players, match officials, volunteers and stakeholders hydrated throughout the competition.
Tshepo Ndlala of Fiber Time, one of the tournament’s key stakeholder partners, praised the turnout and the impact of the initiative.
“I was happy to see such a high number of young people participating. We were proud to sponsor this tournament because it is a great initiative that helps keep young people off the streets while creating opportunities for them through sport,” said Ndlala.
Although two teams withdrew before the tournament concluded, organisers described the inaugural tournament as a success and expressed confidence that it will become an annual platform for developing football talent and empowering young people in Orange Farm.
