Two members of Maties Football Club's first men's team arrived in Pretoria on Sunday as part of the Western Cape U/21 team that will participate in the national SAB U/21 championship tournament this week.
Midfielders Euwen Manuel and Regan Rhode have been members of the Maties club since they were in primary school – Manuel joined as a 12-year-old while Regan was 11 when he became a member.
They attended a training camp in Beaufort-West last week in preparation for the tournament that starts today (29 June) and will conclude on Saturday 4 July.
According to Garth le Roux, sport manager at Maties Sport, nine provincial teams will participate in the tournament. They will compete for the top two spots in two groups: one with five teams and one with four.
The semi-finals will take place on Friday and the final on Saturday.
"We wish them all the best," Le Roux said.
According to the team's coach Jason Rhode, they are very pleased with the players' inclusion in the squad.
"It's a compliment to everyone involved with the club and proof that we are on the right track. We trust that the players will do themselves proud and that their performance will lead to doors in the soccer world opening for them."
