This year the tournament attracted 132 entries across categories, from under eight to under 20 with Seniors and Masters categories available for senior players. The incentive is greater than local bragging rights, with R12 000 up for grabs for the winners in the age categories and R7 000 going to the runner up team. Prize money in the Seniors category is R50 000 for the winners with R25 000 going to the losing finalists.
Returning to support and visit his old neighbourhood Pienaar chatted to young footballers on the sidelines and even took the time to display some trickery with the ball, which was met by enthusiastic applause.
“I want to get a new Steven Pienaar out of this community, not a lot of people come around here and look for talent and this is a platform for the children to show their skills,” the winger said.
Pienaar was happy to give back to his home community, and lauded the social aspect that the tournament brings to the people of Westbury.
“People want to play in this tournament because it’s not only about football, you make new friends,” he said. “There are teams from all around Johannesburg, so you meet new people and maybe they will invite teams from Westbury to come play in their tournament. For the fans there’s music, there’s food. It’s a nice day out for the family.”
The Everton midfielder and former Bafana Bafana star has sponsored the tournament for the past 10 years along with his personal sponsor Puma, who came on board in 2012 and sponsored new kits to all the quarter-finalists across all divisions.