Map Games never cease to amaze
ALEXANDRA - The 15th edition of the Maimane Alfred Phiri (Map) Games may have come and gone but their memory, like those before them, will linger longer.
The 15th edition of the Maimane Alfred Phiri (Map) Games may have come and gone but its memory, like those before it, will continue to linger in the minds of football fans.
If anyone ever doubted the love for the beautiful game in the country’s oldest township, Alexandra, and its nimble-footed players and the talent that abounds, he or she should endeavour to make a trip to the games the next time around.
From humble beginnings back in 2001, the games have come a long way from a mere four-team tournament to the current status where demand for participation far outstrips the capacity to host.
Founded by Alex son of the soil, Phiri, the games today boast more than 170 teams and a whopping prize of R130 000 for the winners alone, nevermind the losers in the various stages of the tournament who also do not leave empty handed.
The games have also attracted big name sponsors such as the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (Prasa), the City of Johannesburg, African Meter Reading, Boston City College and Coca-Cola.
The former Bafana Bafana midfield stalwart, Phiri, said as the organisers of the Map Games, they were open to any suggestions to take the games to another level.
“We even welcome any criticism, as you never learn when you do not get that kind of criticism that builds you. We would like the stakeholders in the games to come up with suggestions that would help us to get the games to another level,” Phiri said.
Phiri said his intention is to grow the games and ensure they become the games of choice for top scouters from the Premier Soccer League clubs.
“There is a lot of talent out there and it just needs to be discovered, and it is tournaments such as the Map Games that can expose the talent for others to snap up and nurture to its full potential.”
Phiri also commended the Alex community for coming out in their numbers to support the annual tournament and for also making it an incident-free event, regardless of the fact that the stadium was packed to the rafters.
