The first day of the Copa Coca-Cola national finals currently underway at the Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberley was one to remember with scintillating action on the pitch and fans getting the opportunity to have a picture taken with Lucas Radebe to fill the gaps and thrill the crowds in between play.
Behind the excitement and anticipation the nine competing Provincial teams each played two games in their respective Groups – and it was a day of surprises.
Each Group had one sports school academy included and in the first couple of games of the day each won comfortably. But as the day wore on not all managed to keep the momentum going, one being the Benny’s Care team from the Benny’s Sport Development Academy (Limpopo). After winning their first game against Ndamase from the Eastern Cape 5 – 2, they crashed out against Sol Plaatjies from North West 2 – 1 to finish second in Group B missing the opportunity to compete in the semifinals.
But Benny’s players can hold their heads up high as Sol Plaatjie Secondary School from Mafikeng is an exceptionally strong football school and they might not be an academy, but many of the players have competed internationally. Sol Plaatjie Team manager, Thomas Shale explains: “Mogorosi Mmethi (scored one goal today) and Norman Manong were amongst the top five players who were selected nationally in a schools tournament to spend some time abroad in Manchester and Brazil. In 2009 Kagiso Mahabane, Lehlohonolo Marumo (the joint leading goalscorer after the first day of play with 5 goals) and Jovian Jacobs spent 12 months in Brazil (Ole Futbol Academy) while other team members represented their respective primary schools at very high levels in the past.”
Shale further has complete faith in his team captain, Lebogang Phetlhu, who, for the past five years, has represented the North West Province at numerous national tournaments. “The only reason why we are usually classified as underdogs is that our school is situated in Mafikeng where not much publicity is done,” he says.
Shale says that a win in Copa Coca-Cola will put the school solidly on the soccer map. “In 2006 when we first entered Copa Coca-Cola my players were very young and we lost at cluster level. Last year we made it to the Provincial finals. The dream has always been to reach the National finals; this is our first time and we are determined to do well.”
Another Sports Academy, HTS Louis Botha, from the Free State comfortably beat Freddy Sithole (Mpumalanga) 4 - 2 and Mohloli (Gauteng) 5 – 1 to top Group C. It is the third time that the technical high school is participating in Copa Coca-Cola, having reached fourth place in the Nationals as their best performance. Despite having lost three players to Sundowns and Chiefs at the end of last year, they are pleased to have reached the National Finals and now to have gone through to the semifinals.
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The team’s manager, Johann Wessels, believes that the team’s good mix of talent, youth and experience count in their favour where it matters - on the pitch. “This is the first big tournament of the year,” he says. “The guys are fresh and ready for some good competition. There is good cohesion in the team, and a great spirit. So we will go out there and do our best tomorrow and get to the finals.”
The team’s manager, Johann Wessels, believes that the team’s good mix of talent, youth and experience count in their favour where it matters - on the pitch. “This is the first big tournament of the year,” he says. “The guys are fresh and ready for some good competition. There is good cohesion in the team, and a great spirit. So we will go out there and do our best tomorrow and get to the finals.”
It was no surprise to see the Western Cape Sports School, another academy, top Group 1. However, it was not plain sailing. The team beat the hosts, Kakamas, 2 – 1 but only managed to draw 1all against Groudville from KZN (the latter team was later disqualified after fielding improperly registered players. The same applied to Ndamase from the Eastern Cape)
Tomorrow, Friday 1 April, all teams play for their final positions. The day will end with the 2 semifinals to decide who gets through to the Finals happening on Saturday, 2 April at 12pm.
Copa Coca-Cola is one of South Africa’s premier tournaments for under-18 schools. Not only are there generous prizes up for grabs, but talent scouts have been keeping their eyes open for new talent that can be developed to feed into the country’s existing talent pool. The prize money for the national winner is R150 000; second place receives R100 000 and third place R60 000. This is over and above the R40 000 cash prize each team receives for making it past the provincial level.
GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C
Groudville (KZN) Benny’s Care (Limp) HTS Louis Botha (FS)
Kakamas (NC) Ndamase (EC) Freddy Sithole (MPUM)
WP Sports School (WC) Sol Plaatjie (NW) Mohloli (Gaut)
RESULTS: 31 MARCH 2011
Groudville GOALS: Sibongiseni Magaye 5 (2 goals) | 2 – 5 | Kakamas GOALS: Malvin Arends 15, Matthew Busby 9, Vernon Saals 11 (2 goals) Elfrit Louw 8 |
Benny’s Care GOALS: Rendani Galedzana 8, Yona Mulaudzi 9 (2 goals), Clement Maphaba 2, Lloid Davhana 7, | 5 - 1 | Ndamase GOAL: Lizo Vava 8 |
HTS Louis Botha GOALS: Sizwe Ngoma 10 (2 goals), Thabiso Mothajana 7, Thabang Mothajana 11 | 4 - 2 | Freddy Sithole GOALS: Nhlanhla Madalane 2 (2 goals) |
Kakamas GOALS: Vernon Saals 11 | 1 - 2 | WC Sports School GOALS: Nathan Adams 9, Mpendulo Mkaza 8 |
Ndamase GOALS: Bagcine Sinqa 12 | 1 - 3 | Sol Plaatjie GOALS: Lehlohonolo Marumo 5 (2 goals), Mogorosi Mmethi 10 |
Freddy Sithole | 0 - 2 | Mohloli GOALS: Vilakazi Siphiwe 4 (2 goals) |
WC Sport School GOAL: Nathan Adams 9 | 1 - 1 | Groudville GOAL: Mlondolozi Mgobhozi 9 |
Sol Plaatjie GOALS: Lehlohonolo Marumo 5 (2 goals) | 2 - 1 | Benny’s Care GOALS: Yona Mulaudzi 9 |
Mohloli GOAL: Siphiwe Vilakazi 4 | 1 - 5 | HTS Louis Botha GOALS: Charlie Hlalele 13, Thabang Mathajane 11, Sizwe Ngoma 10 (3 goals) |
LOG POSITIONS
GROUP A
Groudville (disqualified) | Kakamas | WP Sport School | Points | |
Groudville (KZN) | 2 – 5 | 1 - 1 | 1 | |
Kakamas (NC) | 5 – 2 | 1 - 2 | 3 | |
W Cape Sport School (WC) | 1 – 1 | 2 – 1 | 4 |
GROUP B
Benny’s Care | Ndamase (disqualified) | Sol Plaatjie | Points | |
Benny’s Care(Limp) | 5 – 1 | 1 - 2 | 3 | |
Ndamase (EC) | 1 – 5 | 1 - 3 | 0 | |
Sol Plaatjie (NW) | 2 – 1 | 3 - 1 | 6 |
GROUP C
HTS Louis Botha | Freddy Sithole | Mohloli | Points | |
HTS Louis Botha (FS) | 4 – 2 | 5 - 1 | 6 | |
Freddy Sithole (Mpum) | 2 – 4 | 0 - 2 | 0 | |
Mohloli (Gaut) | 1 – 5 | 2 - 0 | 3 |
FIXTURES: 1 APRIL 2011
Penalty shoot out between Kakamas and Benny’s Care | ||
POSITION 5: Kakamas/Benny’s Care | Freddy Sithole | |
SEMIFINAL 1: HTS Louis Botha | Kakamas/Benny’s Care/Freddy Sithole | |
POSITION 6/7: Kakamas/Benny’s Care/Freddy Sithole | Mohloli | |
SEMIFINAL 2: Western Cape Sports School | Sol Plaatjie |
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