SPECIAL SCHOOL BENEFITS FROM FIRST EXPERIENCE IN DANONE NATIONS CUP

Tsosoloso Special School might not have won the Gauteng Danone Nations Cup Provincial Finals that took place at the Central Grounds in  Mamelodi today, but the teachers used the experience gained from competing in a tournament of this magnitude as an exercise to help build the youngsters confidence.  Tsosoloso won one of their three scheduled games beating Roosevelt Primary School 1 – 0.  The tournament was ultimately won by Sonqoba Primary School who beat defending champions, Sapebuso Primary 3 – 1 on penalties after the game levelled at 1-all after regulation time.  Sonqoba will now represent Gauteng Province in the National Finals.  The ultimate winner will compete in the 40-Nationa World Final in Warsaw, Poland in September.

Tsosoloso, Situated in at the Father Simangaliso Mkhatshwa  Welfare Complex in Soshanguve, is a safe haven for orphaned, abandoned and abused children.  The school has been in operation since 1987 and cares for 350 kids, ranging from 3 to 16 years old,  referred to the school by Social Workers, the South African Police Services (SAPS) and neighbouring schools.

Explains coach, Mohapi Nkutshoeu as to the reason he has been eying the Danone Nations Cup for a couple of years now.  “Every child in the schools comes from a challenging situation meaning that they all have psychological issues, the main being lack of trust, confidence and aggression.  Sport is a means of getting kids active and is a place they can feel safe.  We also use sport, soccer in particular, to teach the kids family values.  When you play in a team you have to trust your team mates.  I tell them that they are playing as a family.”

Mkhatshwa has been at the school since2009.  “I was a member of a group that came to the school as psychologists to talk to the children.  I then joined the school full time where I continue to build the children and am now one of the sports teachers”.

The school is a multi cultural facility and has helped thousands of children grow into fine members of society.  The school relies solely on Government funding to survive and there is not enough to service the sports facilities which are challenging.  “But we manage with what we have and all the players love to just get out onto the field and play,” said Nkutshoeu.

The Gauteng Danone Nations Cup provincial final was won by

RESULTS:

Ivory Park 2 vs  Qhoweng Primary 1

Sapebuso  Primary 1 vs Roosevelt Primary 0

Tsosoloso Special School 0 vs Sunnyside Primary 1

Ivory Park Primary 0 vs  Benoni West Primary 3

Sapebuso Primary 1 vs Tsosoloso Special School 0

Qhoweng Primary 1 vs Sonqoba Primary 0

Roosevelt Primary 0 (2) vs Sunnyside Primary 0(3)

Sonqoba Primary 3 vs Ivory Park 0

Sunnyside Primary 0(2) vs Sapebuso Primary 0(0)

Benoni West Primary 0 (1 )  vs Qhoweng Primary 0(2 )

Tsosoloso Special School 1   vs  FD Roosevelt Primary 0

FINAL:

Sapebuso  1 (1)  vs   Sonqoba 1 (3)