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2025 VW Vaya Cup Champions

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2025 VW Vaya Cup Champions:

Johannesburg, 10 June 2025 – South Africa’s future soccer stars showcased their talent at the second Volkswagen’s VW Vaya Cup tournament, where the 2025 boys’ and girls’ champions were crowned.

The Bidvest McCarthy VW Menlyn winning girls’ and boys’ teams gave it their all over the two-day tournament held at Camp Discovery in Dinokeng, emerging victorious among 22 competing teams. This year’s champions not only hoisted the trophy in celebration but will also attend a bespoke international training camp in 2026, gaining invaluable exposure and experience.

A special mention goes to the two individuals who walked away with the ‘Player of the Tournament’ awards: Bontle Khanye from Bidvest McCarthy VW Umhlanga for the girls, and Sibusiso Maruma from Bidvest McCarthy VW Menlyn for the boys.

Adding inspiration and excitement to the tournament, VW Vaya Cup brand ambassadors Lucas Radebe and Desiree Ellis were present throughout the weekend to watch the matches and support the young players. Their presence added immense value, offering motivation, encouragement, and words of wisdom to the rising stars of South African soccer.

“We saw some exciting gameplay throughout the tournament, with many teams and individual players showcasing impressive talent and skill, culminating in two thrilling finals,” said Martina Biene, Chairperson and Managing Director of Volkswagen Group Africa.

The tournament took place from 6 – 8 June and featured 22 teams: sixteen under-13 boys’ teams and six under-16 girls’ teams, all competing for the coveted title of 2025 VW Vaya Cup champions.

Launched in 2022, the VW Vaya Cup forms part of Volkswagen’s broader commitment to ‘Drive People Forward,’ particularly in driving youth development. For South African youth, soccer is more than a passion—it’s a platform for personal growth, teamwork, and national pride. Through this initiative, Volkswagen South Africa offers young players the opportunity to hone their skills, display their talent, and gain essential life skills such as cooperation and a sense of belonging – both on and off the field.

“The VW Vaya Cup is more than a tournament—it’s a celebration of youth talent and community around one of South Africa’s most beloved sports. We are incredibly proud of all participating teams and celebrate with our 2025 champions,” concluded Biene.

– MyZA

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The Oriental Plaza: A Phoenix in Fordsburg

If Johannesburg is a city of forced displacements, the Oriental Plaza is its most resilient response. While the Rand Club was built for the elite and Ponte for the “jet-set,” the Oriental Plaza was born from the trauma of the Group Areas Act—a piece of Apartheid legislation designed to geographically separate the races. Yet, in true Johannesburg fashion, what was intended as a tool of containment and financial ruin for the Indian community transformed into one of the most vibrant, independent commercial powerhouses in the country.

The story of the Plaza begins with the destruction of Pageview, affectionately known as Fietas. In the mid-20th century, Fietas was a legendary multicultural hub, centered around the bustling 14th Street. It was the city’s premier destination for textiles, clothing, and spices, where shoppers of all races would rub shoulders in a “jazzy, soulful” atmosphere. However, because Fietas was located so close to the white-only city center, the Apartheid government declared it a “white area” in 1962. The community fought back for decades, but by the 1970s, the bulldozers arrived. Homes were leveled, and the thriving traders of 14th Street were forcibly relocated to a purpose-built, modernist complex a kilometer away in Fordsburg: the Oriental Plaza.

The government’s intent was cynical: by moving the traders into a controlled environment with high state-mandated rents and strict rules on what could be sold, they hoped to break the back of Indian commercial dominance. The early years were devastating; many businesses folded, and the “Grand Bazaar” felt like a sterile warehouse compared to the street-level energy of Fietas. However, the traders refused to vanish. They eventually won the right to purchase their own shops, making the Oriental Plaza unique among South African malls because it is owned by the shopkeepers themselves rather than a corporate landlord. This ownership model changed everything. Without the burden of massive monthly mall rentals, the 360+ independent stores can offer prices that national retailers cannot touch, turning the Plaza into a “bargain-hunter’s paradise” that draws millions of visitors a year.