The aim was to compete at their very best, to give the girls valuable game time and of course, push for the title, said Nicole “Nikki” Alexander, chairman of Greenwood’s women’s division.

Alexander said the club is committed to developing young talent and had established a girls' section last season.

“Girls soccer is growing rapidly at Greenwood Athletic. The club and community support for girls soccer is strong and we’re seeing more girls getting involved,” she said.

She said developing the game also helps to bridge the gap in gender equality in the sport, giving girls the same chances as boys to compete and excel.

Taking part in tournaments such as the weekend’s one in Strandfontein, offers and ideal opportunity for them to pit their skills against clubs from other areas.

"The tournament was intense from start to finish. We navigated through the group stages with some strong performances, showing solid teamwork and resilience,” said Alexander.

“The knockout rounds were tough, but the girls stepped up to every challenge, displaying determination and skill. Reaching the final was a huge achievement,” she said, “and although we fell just short, the team gave their all.”

“The girls showed incredible teamwork, determination, and growth throughout the tournament. Finishing as runners-up is a great achievement, and we’ll use this experience to come back even stronger next time,” she said

In the boys' division, Wolverhampton beat Bayhill United 2-0 to lift the trophy

1c:T6f1,Greenwood Athletic Club’s junior girls' side gave a good account of themselves at the weekend’s under-14 “Tournament by the Sea” hosted by Strandfontein AFC, despite going down 4-0 in their cup final match against eventual winners Ubuntu. The aim was to compete at their very best, to give the girls valuable game time