Former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Hendrick Ekstein will be back in the country in December to attend his tournament in the community of Bekkersdal.
The 28-year-old midfielder is playing in Azerbaijan for Premier League club Sabah FK but is still finding time to contribute to the development of football back home during the festive period.
Check out the gallery above for pics of Ekstein's adventures abroad
From 27-30 December, 16 under-17 teams will battle each other for cash prizes, a soccer kits, a trophy and medals at Uptown Soccer Ground in Bekkersdal. The joining fee is R500.
According to Hendrick Ekstein Foundation spokesman Tshepo Makgetha, the player will arrive in the country on 24 December.
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"In December we are hosting a soccer tournament for under-17, strictly under-17," Makgetha tells snl24.com/kickoff.
"It's 16 teams, so far we've got about 12 or 13 teams and registration closes on the 25th. The affiliation is R500.
"It's a knockout tournament and the first prize is a soccer kit, a cash prize money, medals and a trophy. Second prize is a cash prize money and medals, then there are individuals awards as well.
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"There will be scouters for these young people who will take them to good teams like Pirates, Wits and so forth, to the right developments that are structured you see. Therefore we are not saying we are going to take them to the likes of Pirates and everything.
"So to make this tournament more fun and to have that thing, we invited many scouters you see. Maybe they will take the boy or talk to the coach to say 'sharp, we can see the boy has got talent, then let's talk somehow or take him to trials'.
Hendrick Ekstein Foundation presents the 2nd Annual Hendrick Ekstein Soccer Tournament ?????? If you missed it last year, don’t miss it this year.#PlayToBeRemembered#FutureStars #YourSupportWillBeAppreciated pic.twitter.com/zfe456ZtmH
— Pule Ekstein®? (@Puleekstein) September 18, 2019
"But the main thing is it's a soccer tournament, it's a knockout tournament whereby Ekstein is giving back to his community. Because there are programs we are doing throughout the year, he will only come this side on the 24th of December.
"So while he is away there are things that we are doing in between you see. He's got a team that side. Remember he was playing for Kaizer Chiefs and they terminated his contract, he got an offer from Pirates then they couldn't agree on terms of the contract and so forth.
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"The likes of Ben Motshwari, Makhehleni Makhaula, like most of the soccer players will be there, and a number of scouts will be there.
"This is our second annual football tournament, but there are programs in between that we run starting from January. It's not only about football, we want to give back to the community,
"We want to engage more with the community and these young people because most of them are facing problems of drugs, nyaope and everything. So we want to rehabilitate them. "