Through the love of football, a group of Mitchells Plain brasse are bringing a positive attitude to their communities.
Every Sunday for the last three months, up to 12 teams from areas such as Portlands, Rocklands, Woodlands and Lentegeur have been taking part in the Portside Fives tournament on the field situated between Pisa and Windsor Close in Portlands.
Keenan Loggenberg, a player and one of the founding members of the tournament, says: “We decided to start playing because it was a way to bring people together and also just to bring something positive to the community.
“There are a lot of wrong things going on all the time that are dividing us and giving the area a bad name so we thought that this would be a kwaai way to stop all of that because everybody here loves football.”
Ten players take to the field at a time while the matches are 14 minutes long; the tournament includes group stages and knockout rounds.
Team names include Juvies, City and Portlands Score Goals – a play on French giants Paris Saint Germain – while the teams play in replica sweaters of famous European sides such as Manchester City and Liverpool.
Keenan, who plays for City, says: “We do not play for a trophy but rather for bragging rights and one of the good things that has come from the tournament is that people that had beef with each other before have actually started lamming together again and just having a good time.
“Another good thing is that the tournament has become a platform for people in the area to start their own businesses by opening boerewors stands and there is also an auntie who makes toffee apples.”
Residents in the area say they look forward to watching the games on a Sunday.
Portlands resident Janine Adams says: “The people here make a real event out of the day. They bring camping chairs, snacks and just enjoy the day. We hope that one day the council can come and put up nets around the field.”
In accordance with Covid regulations, the laaities’ temperatures are taken, their hands sanitised and masks are worn in between games.
The poles they use have been donated by the Apostolic Church in Portlands.