Debutants Rietvale High School of Francis Baard Region, are the 2011 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Northern Cape Provincial Champions after beating Pabalelo High School, of Siyanda Region 2 – 1 in the final held at Pabalelo Stadium in Upington.
The team takes home R100 000 and has booked a place in the National Finals scheduled for July.
Ecstatic coach, Mr Kasper Spanviel, attributes Rietvale’s victory to good preparation and mental attitude: “Being new to the tournament we did not know what to expect so I prepared the team the best I could. Then I told them to play to enjoy the game and not worry about what their opponents would do. I also told them to think on their feet, have confidence and just do their best. We had this attitude in all our qualifying games and we did the same in the Provincial finals.”
Spanviel is excited about competing in the National Finals: “This will also be our first experience competing with the best Under 18 teams in South Africa and we are going there to learn and just do our best.”
Rietvale scored a record 11 goals in the qualifiers and Spanviel believes the ability to score goals will get his school far in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup. When the players were asked how they felt they unanimously committed to do well in the National finals to win more funds that would enable their school to improve its facilities.
Run under the auspices of SASFA, the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup is the biggest school football tournament in the country with the most prize money of over R3 million. The winner takes home R1 million, R600 000 goes to the runners-up, with R500 000 and R400 000 going to the third- and fourth-placed finishers respectively. Each school that wins its Provincial finals receives R100 000. In accordance with the rules of the competition, the money is used to fund legacy projects identified by the school.
All is not lost for Pabalelo High School who will get another chance in the tournament as the rules allow the provincial finalists to compete in the National finals.
Ms Emily Whitten, Sanlam Financial Adviser based in Upington was pleased with the way the tournament was run: “Sanlam understands the value of development and the importance of realising what one hopes for. We believe that the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup creates opportunities that have a positive impact on the youth and also provides exposure to scouts for these talented young footballers. Importantly, the tournament also contributes to enhanced learning through improved educational facilities for the benefit of the rest of pupils in the winning schools and the broader communities around them.”
Rietvale High joins other provincial champions: Dr Reginald Cingo High of Free State and Sofunda High of Mpumalanga provinces as contenders for the finals.
The next provincial finals will be held in Limpopo and North West on 4 June, Eastern Cape on 11 June, Gauteng on 25 June and the Western Cape on 02 July.
NORTHERN CAPE RESULTS:
Preliminary: Rietvale 5, Steinville 1
1st Semi-final: Pabalelo 2, Remmogo 1
2nd Semi-final: Rietvale 4, Steinkopf 1
Final: Rietvale 2, Pabalelo 1
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