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Allen Khumalo, Sports Reporter
THE first round of Southern Region Five-A-Side League Independence Cup games will continue today at the Grassroots Soccer Football for Hope Centre in Gwabalanda.

In Pool B, Amabhubesi will lock horns with Street Set at 11AM while Pool A will see the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) facing Cash Money at 12 noon.

In tomorrow’s Pool B matches, Bulawayo Artists will play against Cowdray Park at 10AM while in Pool A, Rome will face Black Stars at 11AM.

The Independence Cup tournament will have teams playing in a round robin format with the best team in each pool booking a place to the final to be played on Uhuru day.

Southern Region Five-A-Side League chairman Philani Banda said the competition will help clubs prepare for the 2017 season which will kick off in the first week of April.

“Clubs must use this competition to gear up for the season which starts next month. Registration of clubs and players for the 2017 season is still open and the deadline is March 30. This year we might see other teams joining the league so that means more competitive matches,” said Banda.

Last year, the league had 10 clubs under its umbrella and these are: Fox, Khalanyoni, FC Amabhubesi, Fog, Nyoro United, Rome, Wangu Wangu, Binga United, Cowdray Park and Nust.

Five-A-Side football, also known as futsal, is played on a smaller field and mainly indoors. It is played between two teams of five players each, one of whom is the goalkeeper and unlimited substitutions are permitted.

The game is played with a smaller ball with less bounce than a regular football due to the surface of the field. The surface, ball and rules create an emphasis on improvisation, creativity and technique as well as ball control and passing in small spaces.

— @khumzallen