Zinedine Zidane, the ex Real Madrid player and current Ambassador of the Danone Nations Cup World Final, is a footballer the boys from Barkerville Junior Secondary School will try to emulate as they run onto the pitch of the world renowned Santiago Bernabeu Stadium next weekend when they compete in the 12th edition of the biggest tournament in the world for kids between 10 and 12 years old.
For these boys who come from Mount Frere, a poor rural village near Mthatha, this is the beginning of an experience that will last a life time. They are completely unfazed by the magnitude of such an occasion: ”We don’t know much about Spain accept for the big teams from that country like Barcelona and Real Madrid, but we are looking forward to playing on the very same field that Zinedine Zidane played for so many years,” said star midfielder Asivuyise Ndzamela
“I have never seen these boys as confident and excited as they are now,” said Mrs Lwana, team manager and Grade 1 Life Skills and Maths teacher at the school. “We are going well prepared as we have had excellent coaching from the Eastern Cape Football Academy which has done wonders for the players and will just make them better players.
“The youngster’s perspective of the world has grown immensely since winning the Danone Nations Cup,” said team head coach, Mpilo Canga. “The spotlight is on us and we plan to make South Africans proud next week.”
Sharing the teams’ excitement will be Marvelous Nelwamundo, a grade 10 pupil from Capricorn High school in Polokwane who won the Danone, Canon Kids Reporter competition in July this year.
Marvelous will be accompanying the team to Spain, as a kid reporter documenting the teams’ progress and learning the tricks of the Media trade. The highlight of the trip for Nelwamundo however will undoubtedly be the much coveted press conference when the youngsters get to interview the legendary Zinedine Zidane. “I love Spanish food and the culture so this trip will be really great for me, but I have to admit that getting to meet Zidane is the best part of it all.” Says an overly excited Nelwamundo.
Since its inception in 2000, the tournament has grown from 8 participating countries to now 40 and South Africa has won the event three times (2003,2007 and 2009) and to date the Danone Nations Cup has touched the lives of over 16 million children around the world. “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 Sandra Dorville, Communications manager of Danone Southern Africa.
The youngsters will get to meet local football legend, Neil Tovey, who will be there to wish them well before they leave on their trip. He will focus on telling the youngsters not to be competitive but to go out and just enjoy every game they play in. “The Danone Nations Cup is built on very specific principles which are Humanism, Openness, Proximity and Enthusiasm.”
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