SIPHO MNGOMEZULU’S OLD PRIMARY SCHOOL CROWNED 2011 DANONE NATIONS CUP GAUTENG PROVINCIAL WINNER!

Sapebuso Primary school is the 2011 Danone Nations Cup Gauteng Provincial champion!  The school from Orlando West, Soweto, beat Sunnyside Primary from Pretoria, 3 – 1 on penalties to clinch the title.  Both teams tied with one goal each at the end of regulation time. Sapebuso, managed by a determined and feisty woman, Lahliwe Rakosa, will now compete in the Danone Nations Cup National Finals taking place at the Eldorado Park Stadium on 9 July.

“This is just fantastic,” said an elated Rakosa.  “We have never competed in the Danone Nations Cup before and to win at our first outing is just unbelievable.  We would like to go on and win the National Finals and bring the trophy back to our home area which is District 12. We have done this for them.”

Credit must go to the young 12 year old captain, Keorapetse Mothosola,  who marshalled the back exceptionally well throughout the day.   “I have been hearing my friends talk about the Danone Nations Cup for years now and today was my turn to shine.  I really got confident after winning the first two games but was a bit worried coming up against Bree Primary.  I believe we will do well at the National Finals,” said the youngster who one day wants to play for Kaizer chiefs.

Sipho Mngomezulu from Bidvest Wits is a product of Sapebuso Primary. “We might not  have played in this prestigious competition, but soccer is a key sport played at the school and we are proud of our products such as Sipho and we will produce many more in the future,” said Rakosa.

The 2011 Danone Nations Cup winners will represent South Africa at the Danone Nations Cup World Finals scheduled to take place in Madrid, Spain from 5 to 10 October.

Group Danone, one of the world’s largest producers of fresh dairy products, started the competition in 2000 with the desire to act sustainably on behalf of children’s well-being and health. Football as a universal sport is the perfect way to promote values like fair play, the pleasure of the game, team spirit, sharing -and above all- human values like openness, and respect, explains Sandra Dorville, communications manager of Danone South Africa.

“By bringing healthy food and some good healthy fun together, children learn about life through a shared experience. And to those who get to the world finals, it is an experience that will undoubtedly become a cherished memory,” says Dorville.

Every year approximately 2 000 schools register for participation in the South African Danone Nations Cup and, after tough qualifying rounds, the number gets reduced to nine who then compete in the National finals.

Results

Pool A

Benoni West 0 – 1 Bree Primary

Sapebuso       1 – 0 Makapane

Benoni West 0 – 1 Sapebuso

Bree Primary 0 – 1 Makapane

Makapane     1 – 0 Benoni West

Sapebuso       0 – 0 Bree Primary (Bree 4 – 2 on penalties)

Pool B

Sunnyside       1 – 1 Diodi

Kgotletlelang 0 – 0 Ukhanyiso (Ukhanyiso 3 – 2 on penalties)

Sunnyside       1 – 0 Kgotletlelang

Diodi                0 – 0 Ukhanyiso (Ukhanyiso 3 – 2 on penalties)

Ukhanyiso      0 – 0 Sunnyside (Ukhanyiso 2 – 0 on penalties)

Kgotletlelang 1 – 0 Diodi (Diodi 3 – 2 on penalties)

Final

Sapebuso    1 – 1 Sunnyside (Sapebuso won 3 – 1 on penalties)

ABOUT DANONE

Danone entered the South African market in 1998 through a joint venture created with Clover SA. In January 2010 Danone acquired 100% of the Danone-Clover joint-venture and Danone Southern Africa was born. With 47% market share, Danone Southern Africa is the leader in the fresh dairy products and desserts.

Danone Southern Africa is part of the Danone Group, one of the fastest-growing food companies in the world.  Danone is present in over 120 countries across all continents. With 160 plants and around 100,000 employees, the Danone Group is the number one worldwide for Fresh Dairy Products. Danone’s mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible.