By Cherie Vertuin
Residents of Wentworth, south of Durban, say annual soccer tournaments held over the recent Freedom Day and Workers’ Day long weekends brought a sense of hope and unity to a community often overshadowed by gang violence.
For many residents, gunshots, police sirens and fear have become part of daily life, replacing the days when children could safely play in the streets after school.
However, the recent tournaments created an opportunity for residents and visiting teams to focus on sport and community spirit instead.
The Workers’ Day weekend kicked off with Wentworth’s annual soccer tournament, with a Pietermaritzburg team claiming this year’s title and bragging rights.
The event hosted 16 teams competing across over-35, over-50 and senior divisions. Teams travelled from Pietermaritzburg and Gauteng to take part in the weekend-long competition.
Local resident and Cherians player Randall Abdie said hosting the tournament brought pride to the community.
“Being both a resident and soccer player in Wentworth, hosting this year’s tournament brought a sense of pride and hope,” he said.
“In a place where challenges like crime and gang activity can sometimes feel overwhelming, seeing people come together around something positive reminds you that there’s so much more to the community than those struggles.”
Claude Bartleson, manager of the Jozi Friends team, said many of the older players were once rivals on the streets but had built friendships through football.
“There was a time whereby these now over-35 and over-50 players were rivals in the streets, but through the love of the game these men have the freedom of movement and can travel to different communities and laugh about old rivals,” he said.
The tournament was sponsored by Cherians Old Boys and also created opportunities for informal traders and residents to gather peacefully with friends and family over the long weekend.
Abdie said soccer had also strengthened family bonds and helped develop young people both on and off the field.
“As a parent of a player, soccer often becomes about support and development. It’s watching your child grow, not just as an athlete, but as a person,” he said.
“In both roles, soccer is more than just a game, it’s a space for learning, connection and building character.”
Bartleson said strong relationships had developed between participating communities over the years, making the long journeys worthwhile for players and supporters alike.
Young Wentworth footballer Leighston Abdie said growing up in an area affected by gangsterism and drugs motivated him to succeed through sport.
“Coming from a community like Wentworth that is known for its gangsterism and drugs, you don’t always see many athletes making it out of the community through soccer,” he said.
“But because I know how hard it can be for me, that’s what pushes me to do my best every time I get onto the pitch.”
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