2008 Wilderness Veterans over 40’s Football tournament

Click here to see the photos

On Friday 25 July Mr. Les Smuts of the George 2010 organising committee officially declared the 2007 Wilderness veterans football tournament open. With teams rearing to go to kick off, disaster struck when the lights at the NMMU campus failed leaving all ten teams in the dark. After an hours delay the organisers managed to get three of the pylons on the main field working allowing some of the games to take place.

Dale Wrede commented that this really placed pressure on the event for the remainder of the weekend as some teams were not able to play on the Friday night forcing them to play all their fixtures on the Saturday.

From kick off of the first game the standard of soccer was superb and these guys proved that life really does begin at 40. Friday night saw the clash of the tournament with Rygersdal taking on the cup holders Vasco da Gama. Both sides are filled with quality players and the game was played at a fast and furious pace with Rygersdal eventually securing the winner through a second half Lou Goodwin header.

Saturday

Saturday saw an early start with games brought forward due to fixtures being lost on the Friday night. Boksburg soon emerged as early favorites in group one going through unbeaten for the second year running in their round robben games and topping their table without conceding a goal. Bothasig finished in second place after overcoming a tight Florida Park defense to finish in second spot, 2 points clear of Florida park.

Boksburg Football Club

In group 2 Rygersdal dropped points against both Corinthians and Maritzburg by drawing with both and finally finishing second to Vasco who went through unscathed after their initial loss to Rygersdal, topping the group by knocking in 9 goals and not conceding another after their first round loss to Rygersdal.

Vasco da Gama Football Club

The semi final saw Vasco beat Bothasig 1 - 0 and Rygersdal overcome Boksburg 1 - 0 in the other semi. It must be said that Boksburg at this stage were dead on their feet having travelled with only 13 fit players. As expected the final was a real crackerjack affair between these two top sides. It was a match that could have gone either way with both creating clear chances. Again it was Lou Goodwin who broke the dead lock with a 6 minute first half strike that secured the trophy for his team.

Final placings

A big thank you to our sponsors, Martin Robinson of The Protea King George hotel who covered many of the costs associated with this event and Lau Jensen of Hummel Africa who provided prizes for the winners.

All in all it was a good weekend of competitive football. Westend received special mention and a prize from the George 2010 organizing committee for the good football they played with a team far older in years then their competitors. Maritzburg sporting walked away with the prize for the most sporting side at the tournament and were a wonderful example of humility and sportsmanship. Rama Naidoo of Maristzburg Sporting at 57 years being the oldest player at the tournament.

The All Star side was announced as follows:

1. John Goodwin (Rygersdal)
2. Gavin Fisher (Vasco)
3. Clarence Baaitjies (Vasco)
4. Dave Stewart (Boksburg)
5. Alan Thompson (Vasco)
6. Brian Wiel (Vasco)
7. Philip Spannenburg (Vasco)
8. Rama Moodley (Maritzburg)
9. Neil Mathee (Rygersdal)
10. Clayton Zeederburg (Rygersdal)
11. Lou Goodwin (Rygersdal)

Crunchie side:

1. Steve Bonnet (Corinthians) questioning age of opposition
2. Mike Nossel (Corinthians) Gene Wilder look
3. Gary Toulman (Bothasig)
4. Hadley Laz (Corinthians) good 10 mins and then endind up watching the rest of the toutrnament.
5. Les garesh (Sporting Maritzburg) faked injury and caught ourt by manager
6. Biggs Chetty (Sporting Maristzburg) Placed his kit bag in another teams Kombi
7. Billy Pollock (Corinthians) Missed goal from 2 metres out
8. Tommy Shawe (Boksburg) crunching tackles
9. Sebastian Rodriguez (Vasco) stood on the ball
10. Llowelyn Goodwin (Rtgersdal) missed with keeper lying on the ground.

Top goal scorer - Llouwellyn Goodwin (boots, tracksuit and bag from Hummel)
Player of the tournament - Brian Wiel. (boots, tracksuit and bag and ball from Hummel)

A big thank you to the team organisors for all your effort in collecting funds from players coordinating all the arrangements and getting your team to George.

We look forward to meeting up with you next year.

Regards,
Dale.

To see the photos from this tournament, click here