Dramatic third day of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Finals

Football is unpredictable!  The game is not over until the final whistle blows and when it does there can be some surprises and this is just what happened in Bloemfontein where the Sanlam Kay Motsepe National finals are happening.

The day started with the two KwaZulu Natal teams being disqualified due to papers not being in order.  This changed the fixtures and into the quarterfinals came Westridge High School from Mitchell’s Plain, Cape Town.  They beat Pabalelo from Upington, Northern Cape 4 – 2 on Penalties in the quarterfinals, then Ncedo from Motherwell, Eastern Cape by 2 – 0  to book a place in the final.

Meanwhile, luck ran out for Johannesburg Secondary School of Gauteng.  After beating Amadhlelo  High School of Mpumalanga 1 – 0 in the quarterfinal, they succumbed to host team, Harmony 2 – 0 losing their chance to play in the final

So the final at the Seeisa Ramabodu Stadium tomorrow, Saturday 16 July, will see rank outsider, Westridge High School play Harmony.  Kick-off at 12pm.

Johannesburg Secondary team manager, Joseph Modiba said of the day:  “After playing Amadhelo yesterday, they knew our game plan and they came at us in the quarters.  We were saved by our  excellent goalkeeper, Mashiane Marumo, who has been with Pirates since 13 years old, but we had used up all our energy.  We might not be in the finals but just by getting into the first four we have won more money for the school than ever before and for this we are happy.”

Harmony High School team coach, Patrick Mokwena, was ecstatic on getting through to the finals:  “We have been playing in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup since it started in 2004 and we have won it twice (2005 and 2008) and after losing to Jet Nteo last year we feel it is time to redeem our pride and win again, particularly in our home Province.  The tournament has been good to us and we hope that through this tournament more of my players will get exposure.”

The coach went on to say how the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup has helped his players:  “Last year three of my players were picked up by ex professional, Brendon Silent, and have finished school and are at the Impala Academy in Rustenburg. “

Andrew Absolon, team manager of Westridge is looking forward to tomorrow:  “I was pleased to just play in the quarterfinals, but this is something fantastic.  Playing Harmony will be a challenge but anything is possible in football and let’s see what happens tomorrow.”

The finals will be an action packed day starting at 9.30am with entertainment.  The third fourth play off between Johannesburg Secondary and Ncedo kick’s off at 10am followed by performances by DJ Sbu and Zakes Bantwini.  The final kicks-off at 12pm.

 Results Day 3

GAME	TEAM	RESULT	TEAM
46	(QF)Johannesburg Secondary	1 – 0	Amahlelo
47	(QF)Pabalelo	0 (P2) – 0 (P4)	Westridge
48	(QF)Rosina Sedibane	0(P4) – 0(P5)	Ncedo
49	(QF)Dr R. Congo	0 – 2	Harmony
50	(Pos 9 – 12)Rietvale	0 - 3	Mahlale
51	(Pos 9 – 12)Boithaopo	3 - 1	Mafsiakgomo
52	(Pos 13 – 16)Sol Plaatje	0 - 1	Jojo
53	(Pos 13 – 16)Phagameng	0 (P4)-0(P5)	Beaufort West
55	(Pos 15 -16) Sol Plaatje	0 (P4) – 0 (P3)	Phagameng
56	(Pos 13-14) Jojo	0 – 1	Beaufort West
57	(Pos 5 – 8)Amahlelo	0 – 2	Dr R Cingo
58	(Pos 5 – 8)Pabelelo	0 – 1	Rosina Sedibane
59	(Pos 11 – 12)Rietvale	1 – 0	Mafsiakgomo
60	(Pos 9 – 10) Mahlale	0 – 1	Boithaopo
61	(Pos 7 – 8) Amahlelo	0 - 1	Pabalelo
62	(Pos 5 – 6) Dr R. Cingo	0 (P3) – 0(P5)	Rosina Sedibane
63	(SF 1) Johannesburg sec	0 - 2	Harmony
64	(SF2) Westridge	2 – 0	Ncedo

FINAL POSITIONS

POSITION	SCHOOL
5	Rosina Sedibane (Gauteng)
6	Dr R. Cingo (Free State)
7	Pabalelo (Northern Cape)
8	Amahlelo (Mpumalanga)
9	Boithaopo (North West)
10	Mahlale (Mpumalanga)
11	Rietvale (Northern Cape)
12	Mafsiakgomo (Limpopo)
13	Beaufort West (Western Cape)
14	Jojo (Eastern Cape)
15	Sol Plaatje (North West)
16	Phagameng (Limpopo)