5-A-SIDE KIA CHAMPIONSHIP
(SOUTH AFRICA), 11 JUNE 2012-The Untouchables have been crowned South African winners of the 2012 Kia Champ into the Arena five-a-side national finals that were held at the Italian Sports Club in Bedfordview, Johannesburg on Sunday, 10 June 2012.
The team from KwaZulu-Natal will now represent Kia South Africa at the 2012 Kia Champ into the Arena global finals to be held in Warsaw, Poland, on June 27, hoping to emulate Soweto-based Scorpions FC, who won the global showpiece in Argentina last year.
The tournament has only been open to amateur players and has been highly successful after more than a month of competition.
Teams from around the country took part in the national finals on Sunday after provincial qualifiers. From the Western Cape there was Guess Who, Mamba Five FC and Galacticos FC, who were joined by The Untouchables, Durban Classic and Leopards from KwaZulu-Natal.
The Gauteng qualifiers produced First Team, Black Ice and Six Pack for the national finals, making it a highly-competitive field of nine teams.
But after a hard day of indoor action, The Untouchables won through to the final and beat Johannesburg locals First Team 4-2 in the decider to book their ticket to Poland, where they will also take in the 2012 European Championships semifinal in Warsaw on 28 June 2012.
Gauteng’s Black Ice beat Durban Classic 2-0 in the third-place play-off to claim the bronze medal.
2012 Kia Champ into the Arena ambassador Andre Arendse says the best team won on the day, but adds that all the sides who took part this year should be incredibly proud.
“The standard of five-a-side football was outstanding from all the teams this year and it was a real battle to the winners’ medals. But The Untouchables proved themselves to be exactly that and they are worthy winners and can now go forward and represent Kia South Africa with pride,” Arendse says.
“There was some fantastic football played in all the qualifiers and I think this tournament has been a real boost in helping to develop and identify new talent. It has given these sides a platform to showcase their talent Kia should be congratulated for hosting such an event. We now wish The Untouchables all the best in the global finals in Poland.”
The global finals of the Kia Champ into the Arena tournament will consist of 15 teams from around the world. The Untouchables will spend four days in Poland, taking in the finals tournament, European Championship semifinal and a also the sights and sounds of one of Europe’s most historic cities.
Five-a-side football, also known as Futsal, is a growing phenomenon in South Africa and there are popular amateur leagues in all the major centres around the country.
Brazil and Spain have been the dominant forces in the men’s professional game down the years, while in Africa it is Egypt who have led the way. But the growing popularity of the game in South Africa means we are catching up fast, with initiatives such as the 2012 Kia Champ into the Arena helping to produce more players for the provincial and national set-ups.The Untouchables have been crowned South African winners of the 2012 Kia Champ into the Arena five-a-side national finals that were held at the Italian Sports Club in Bedfordview, Johannesburg on Sunday.
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