It’s only been a year since Fish Hoek-based Ubuntu Football Academy established a girls' soccer programme and already they’ve earned a reputation as the ones to beat. Ubuntu’s under-14s certainly lived up to that reputation, when they thumped Greenwood Athletic 4-0 in the girls championship final, at the weekend’s Tournament by the Sea, at Strandfontein sports complex.

The two sides also met in the group stage with Ubuntu coming away with a 10-0 win in their opening fixture, followed by an 8-0 win against hosts Strandfontein and a 4-2 win against Dangerous Heroes.

Star striker Cira Jameson, a net finder of note, was named the tournament’s top goal scorer with 19 goals to her credit.

While happy with the result, coach Chris Njokwana, was quick to note that the academy’s footb

all philosophy extends beyond the pitch.

Njokwana said his main goal was to provide game experience for the newcomers to the squad, many of whom faced the pressure of tournament play for the first time.

He said the bulk of the squad have been together for a year with a few new players having joined at the beginning of the year, bringing together a blend of experience and fresh talent.

“Of course it is very important to develop girls football but we try to develop good human beings first and to create great role models,” he said.

“We take girls’ football very seriously at Ubuntu. The girls are treated exactly like the boys and all resources are shared equally among the girls and boys,” he said

“My main hope and focus going into the tournament was for the new girls who came to the programme this year to have more game time, to feel how to play in pressure situations,”he said.

Competition rules allowed them to enter five older players, Njokwana said, but they only registered two 15-year-olds with the rest of the squad made up of younger players.

“As we’re preparing for the upcoming league, it was a good test for most of our 12 year olds,” said Njokwana, praising the organisers for hosting a top-class event

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