NAEEMA Holland has earned her stripes – coming through the proverbial ranks – to own the historical position of first female president of Oriental Gunners Football Club.
Holland is a former provincial netball umpire and convenor. As a player she commanded respect on the field. Needless to say that she’s seen and done it all.
This was also largely due to the influence of her legendary dad, Hadji Salie Eksteen – a former Western Province Netball coach and an umpire at Cape District back in the day.
Her progression from player to administrator was inevitable as the passion for sport and football runs deep in her family. Suffice to say Holland is a true servant of the game, not only for her club but also for the Rygate LFA where she serves as treasurer.
Under the watchful eye and mentorship of the club’s Honorary member and former president Faizel ‘Boeta’ Samaai, are making sure that Gunners’ future is looking bright – on and off the field.
Holland’s first challenge came on Sunday when she ran the show when Gunners hosted their third annual Community Cup Challenge 5-a-side tournament with great success at the Rygate Sports Field.
“The reason the clubs like this tournament is because it’s a one-day event,” Holland explains.
“It’s in and out and not a long drawn out affair like over five days. We do normal registration and all rules apply, you know.
“It wasn’t also an open tournament for everybody, but clubs were selected by invitation only. I wanted to have a nice mix of community clubs and academies. I wanted clubs that don’t normally get invited or can’t enter due to financial restrictions.
“Those are the clubs that we like to accommodate. We have a social responsibility and that is why two clubs were given free entry,” Holland concluded.
Meanwhile, it was the Sport Stepping Stone Academy (SSS) who were the big winners when they bagged the under 9 Winners’ section, as well as the Plate Winners trophy in the under-11 age group. Ethan Josias also scooped up the top goalscorer award in this division.
The hosts u.11 side walked away with the Winner’s trophy with Storme Koks bagging the top-goalscorer award.
The one-day youth tournament was held for the first time post-Covid at the Rygate LFA precinct’s ‘Cage’ after being played at the Evolution Astroturf in Hadji Ebrahim Crescent in Rylands the previous two years.
