The Verulam Football Association Invitation Team celebrates their 5–2 victory over the Blue Stars Invitation Team in the Over 60 invitational match during the Easter Football Tournament. Also pictured are Verulam Football Association president Martha Narainsamy (second from left), secretary Nico Mazwayi (third from left) and team manager Salva Govender (fourth from left).
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The VERULAM RECREATION GROUNDS came alive with excitement over the Easter weekend as the Verulam Local Football Association (LFA) successfully hosted its much-anticipated Easter Football Tournament from 3 to 5 April.
The three-day grassroots football spectacle attracted large crowds of players, supporters and families from across the eThekwini region, creating a festive atmosphere that celebrated sport, unity and community pride.
Organised by the Verulam LFA and backed by prominent sponsor Duduzane Zuma, the tournament showcased football talent across several age divisions while providing an inclusive platform for both young and veteran players to participate in the sport they love.
Matches were played across multiple divisions, including the Open, Over 35 and Over 50 categories, drawing strong participation from teams eager to compete for honours during the Easter football festival.
Among the highlights of the weekend was a spirited invitational match in the Over 60 category, where the Verulam Football Association Invitation Team secured an impressive 5–2 victory over the Blue Stars Invitation Team, delighting spectators who gathered to witness the clash of veteran players.
The tournament also attracted notable figures from the football fraternity.
Head coach Ronnie Gabriel of Richards Bay FC (centre) with Bisham Devchand (left) and Salva Govender during the Easter football tournament hosted by the Verulam Local Football Association.
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Head coach Ronnie Gabriel of Richards Bay FC was among those in attendance, lending further prestige to the community sporting event.
According to organizers, the tournament drew thousands of spectators over the course of the weekend, with families enjoying not only the football action but also the lively atmosphere created by food stalls, refreshments and entertainment around the grounds.
Tournament sponsor Duduzane Zuma with Verulam Football Association president Martha Narainsamy The tournament distributed approximately R140 000 in prize money.
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Verulam Football Association president Martha Narainsamy described the tournament as a proud moment for football in the area, praising the strong community support and the spirit of unity that defined the weekend.
“This tournament reminded many of us of the glory days of football in Verulam. We had well over 3 000 people at the grounds across the three days and the support was incredible. What stood out was the unity – people from all communities came together simply for the love of football. The matches were highly competitive and every division went down to penalties, which shows the quality of the teams involved. We are deeply grateful to Duduzane Zuma for his generous sponsorship and hands-on support. After the hard work of rebuilding the grounds following the 2022 floods, seeing the community come together like this was truly special. Football in Verulam is growing tremendously and we are excited about taking it to even greater heights.”
Sponsor Duduzane Zuma pictured at the trophy table during the Verulam LFA Easter Football Tournament at the Verulam Recreation Grounds
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The tournament also distributed approximately R140 000 in prize money, made possible through sponsorship from Duduzane Zuma.
Organizers described the event as one of the most successful Easter football tournaments hosted in Verulam, highlighting the power of sport to bring communities together and strengthen local football development.
With strong community support and enthusiastic participation from teams and supporters alike, the Verulam LFA Easter Football Tournament once again proved to be a major highlight on the local sporting calendar.