HARMONY HIGH SCHOOL IS THE SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP FREE STATE CHAMPIONS

Harmony High School from Virginia is the under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Free State champion. They beat 2011 provincial champions, Dr Reginald Cingo Comprehensive School, 2-0 in the final in Welkom last Saturday.  Both teams will compete in the National Finals happening in Bloemfontein from 2 – 6 October. 

Harmony is comfortably the most successful team in the competitions history.  In 2010 the school finished the National Finals in second position winning R700 000 and they were 2011 National champions, taking home the R1 million prize.

All 17 players in the current school team are also part of the Harmony Sports Academy funded by Harmony Mines and situated in Virginia about 8 km away from the school where all players stay in the boarding house.

Team manager Hector Mokhali says participating in the SKMSC is important because it gives the players a platform to be seen and be scouted by the professional football clubs.“The tournament has also meant a lot for us because the prize money we have won has improved our sporting equipment, not just football but for other sporting codes at the school as well,” he says.

Coach Pitso Mokoena singles out captain, Themba Dhladhla, as one of his key players. He was part of last year’s team, so he is experienced and is a very committed player as well as a good motivator.

Dhladhla says losing is really not an option for them because they have to maintain the standard set by the school in this tournament. “There is a lot of pressure on us but I believe the commitment shown by the team so far and the experience we have will work in our favour on the national stage.”

So far Harmony High School and Dr Reginald Cingo Comprehensive School will face Lindelihle Senior Secondary School and Mnceba Senior Secondary School from the Eastern Cape, Benny Sports Development Academy and Mammoka High School from Limpopo, Rietvale High School and Langberg High School from Northern Cape, East High College of Excellence and Lindile Secondary School from Mpumalanga at the National finals in Bloemfontein later this year. The other provinces still have to select their representatives.

Sanlam Business Development Manager in Welkom, Shadrack Lenong says: “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.

FREESTATE RESULTS

Participating schools:

Pool A - Harmony High School (Lejwaleputswa Region); HTS Louis Botha Technical High School (Motheo Region); Moketa High School (Thabo Mofutsanyana Region).

Pool B - Concordia High School (Lejwaleputswa Region); Ipetleng Secondary School (Xhariep Region); Dr Reginald Cingo Comprehensive School (Fezile Dabi Region).

RESULTS

Harmony High School 2 vsMoketa High School 0, Concordia High School 1 vsIpetleng Secondary School 0, HTS Louis Botha Technical High School 3 vsMoketa High School 0, Ipetleng Secondary School 1 vs Dr Reginald Cingo Comprehensive School 2, Harmony High School 2 vs HTS Louis Botha Technical High School 0, Concordia High School 1 vs Dr Reginald Cingo Comprehensive School 1.

FINAL

Harmony High School 2 vs Dr Reginald Cingo Comprehensive School 0