Excitement grips Eastleigh as Ramadhan Cup enters semifinals stage

Excitement continues to grip Eastleigh as the 2024 Ramadhan Cup tournament enters the semifinal stage.

The competition, played as a 9-a-side football game on a reduced football pitch, is managed and sponsored by the New Isli Management and matches have been taking place at the New Eastleigh Primary School.

“The matches start at 5:30 pm because during the day learners are still in class and most of the fans and players are committed at their day jobs,” Feisal Mohammed, a member of the New Isli Management, told The Eastleaigh Voice.

New Isli Management member Feisal Mohammed

The 2024 Ramadhan Cup has proved to be a fun way for most Eastleigh residents to spend their evenings as they wait for Iftar.

The competition started on Friday 8 March 8, with 16 teams and since then the tournament has reduced to four teams.

The 16 teams which started the competition are: Burhan, California, Cicinho, Climbing Stars, Corner Legends, Gaza, Kakuma, Karantiil, Komorock, Nasra Garden, Rayan, Sharp, South C, Villa Roma, Viola, and Xidigaha. Most of the teams are drawn from estates within Kamukunji Constituency.

The competition has been played as a knockout tournament starting at the Round of 16 stage which saw Burhan, Climbings Stars, Corner Legends, Gaza Stars, Kakuma, Karantiil, Rayan, and Viola progressing to the quarterfinals after eliminating California, Sharp, South C, Nasra Garden, Xidigaha, Villa Roma, Cicinho, and Komorock respectively.

Crowd following proceedings at the Ramadhan Cup in the New Eastleigh Primary School

At the quarterfinals stage, Burhan, which plays in the FKF Division Two, qualified for the semifinals after defeating Climbing Stars 4-3 on penalties following a 0-0 draw in regulation time.

More action as Burhan faced Climbing Stars on Thursday 21 March

Burhan will face Corner Legends in the semifinals on Saturday. Corner Legends defeated Viola 2-0 to book their spot in the last four.

Friday fixtures 

Today’s semifinal clash will see Gaza Stars take on Karantiil. Gaza Stars earned their place in the final four after defeating Rayan 2-0 while Karantiil progressed from the quarterfinals after overcoming Kakuma 2-1.

“After the semifinals, the tournament will take a break so that the final will climax with the end of Ramadhan. In between, we will organise another mini-tournament so that there is no gap because we have to maintain the thrill and excitement of football during Ramadhan,” Feisal sa