Itireleng, 9 August 2026 — Itireleng Sports Field came alive on Sunday as women footballers from across Ward 61 gathered for an exciting Women’s Day soccer tournament hosted by Cllr Naeem Patel in partnership with the African National Congress (ANC) Dawood Essop Branch.
Four women’s teams from the ward participated in the tournament:
Delfos Football Club
Aztec Football Club
Itireleng Football Club
Simon Stars Football Club
The tournament provided an opportunity for women from Laudium, Erasmia and Itireleng to come together through sport, showcase their talent and celebrate Women’s Day in a spirit of unity and community.
The opening semi-final saw Delfos FC take on Simon Stars, with Simon Stars securing their place in the final after a determined performance.
The second semi-final featured Aztec FC against Itireleng Ladies, with the home side booking their place in the final after overcoming their opponents.
The final between Itireleng Ladies and Simon Stars proved to be a closely contested encounter. Neither side could be separated during the match, forcing the game to a penalty shootout. Simon Stars held their nerve from the spot to claim the tournament trophy.
Simon Stars were crowned champions, with Itireleng Ladies finishing as runners-up.
The tournament also recognised individual excellence, with Dikeledi Malaya of Simon Stars being named Player of the Tournament for her outstanding performances throughout the competition.
The winning team and runners-up were presented with trophies, while the players received gold and silver medals sponsored by Cllr Patel’s office.
In keeping with the spirit of Women’s Day and supporting women in the community, Cllr Patel also sponsored 1,000 packs of sanitary pads, which were distributed to participating players and female residents attending the tournament.
The event attracted a strong turnout from residents and created a vibrant atmosphere at the sports field, with families and supporters coming out to cheer on the teams.
Cllr Patel expressed his appreciation to the organisations and volunteers who contributed to the success of the tournament, including the Ward 61 Residents Association, Laudium CPF, Ward Committee and Laudium Disaster Management.
He also thanked the ANC Dawood Essop Branch and the Laudium Football Association for their role in organising and supporting the event.
The tournament was more than just a football competition. It brought together residents from different parts of Ward 61 and demonstrated the power of sport to unite communities, create friendships and build bridges between Laudium, Erasmia and Itireleng.
Speaking after the tournament, Cllr Patel said the event was a celebration of the talent, strength and resilience of women in the community.
The successful tournament has once again highlighted the importance of investing in women’s sport and creating opportunities for young women and female athletes to participate, compete and develop their talents.
Congratulations to Simon Stars on their well-deserved victory, and to all four teams for making the Women’s Day tournament a memorable celebration of sport, unity and community.
Submitted
