Harmony Academy of the Free State’s Lejweleputswa Region has celebrated the completion of the legacy projects made possible from the prize money the school received after their second-place finish in the 2010 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup.
Harmony were joined in celebration by representatives of Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation, the Ubuntu-Botho Development Trust and the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA), the Free State education department and the local Ward Councillor.
Harmony walked away with a total of R700 000, including R100 000 for being crowned Free State Provincial Champions, and utilised the funds to buy a 44-seater bus, a sprinkler system and a projector and screen for presentations.
Run under the auspices of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA), the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup is the biggest schools football tournament in the country with the most prize money of over R3m. The winner takes R1 million, R600 000 for the runners-up, R500 000 and R400 000 for third- and fourth-place finishers respectively. Each school that wins their Provincial final receives R100 000. The tournament prize money is spent on legacy projects identified by the school.
Harmony Headmaster, Andrew Monnane, could not contain his excitement: “Our football team, referred to by the community as ‘The Eagles’, has done the school proud. I cannot express in words my gratitude to the sponsors for what our prize money has done for us.”
“While we excel on the football field, education remains a key priority and we now have our own 44-seater bus to take our pupils to attend extra classes. We have to go from Virginia to the Central University of Technology in Welkom. And, of course, the bus will take our footballers to play official games. Last Saturday, we travelled to Boschoff stadium in style to compete in our first 2011 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Regional game,” said Monnane.
“The partnership between Sanlam, SASFA, Ubuntu-Botho Development Trust and the Motsepe Foundation indicates our commitment to addressing schools’academic and sporting needs,” said Julius Chabeli, Sanlam Business Developer in Free State. “Sanlam understands the value of development and the opportunity it gives youngsters to achieve what they hope for. We believe that the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup creates opportunities that have a positive impact on the youth, and provides exposure to scouts for talented players. Importantly, it also contributes to enhanced learning through improved educational facilities for the benefit of the rest of the pupils in the participating schools and the broader community.”
Kenneth Makhanya, representative of the Motsepe Foundation and the Ubuntu-Botho Development Trust concurred with Chabeli: “The partnership with Sanlam and SASFA has afforded us the opportunity to reach as many high schools as possible, touching lives and bringing smiles to as many pupils and communities as possible. It is a great honour and thoroughly humbling to be able to contribute to building strong societies while developing a culture of football in our country.”
‘The Eagles’ have had a good run in the tournament, during the past few years. They were crowned National champions in 2005 and 2008, runners-up in 2006 and 2010 and took third place in 2009. Their 2011 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup is underway, but there is still a way to go to put them in the Provincial Finals for the fifth year in succession.
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| Malombo Lechaba of the Motsepe Foundation (L) and Moletsane Chabeli of Sanlam Business Development (2ndR) join school principal Andrew Monnane (1tsR) in unveiling of the 2010 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup handover of the R700 000 award to Harmony High School for coming 2nd in the 2010 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup |
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| Harmony High School Principal Andrew Monnane (R) and Moletsane Chabeli of Sanlam Business Development (L) at the handover of the 2nd placed prize R700 000 award to Harmony High School for coming 2nd in the 2010 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup |
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| The u19 Harmony High Soccer Team in front of the bus that was purchased with the prize money during the handover of the R700 000 award to Harmony High School for coming 2nd in the 2010 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup |
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