The Eastern Cape provincial finals of the Sanlam
Kay Motsepe School Cup take place at the Dumpsey Adams stadium in Queenstown on
Saturday, starting at 9am. Amongst the competing teams is Kuyasa Combined
School, who are making their third appearance in this lucrative tournament that
carries a first prize of R1 million.
In 2010 and 2011 the school managed to get to the
provincial finals, but never made it further and in 2012 they were knocked out
in the regional stage of the competition.
Coach, Bongani Ngqokoqwa, says they are better
prepared this time. “The team is strong and tight, we have a better bond than
ever before. They are disciplined and there is more communication on the field
during play,” he said.
Should they win the
R100 000 in prize money that goes to all provincial champions in the
Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, Ngqokoqwa says the money will be used to upgrade their
soccer field as they currently have to use the local municipal grounds.
The team is training hard, Ngqokoqwa says, and
playing friendlies against local teams in the area. “We are working on stamina
and pace,” Ngqokoqwa says. “We don’t know what to expect from the other teams
at the provincial finals, so will prepare well and not leave anything to
chance.” Ngqokoqwa has been coaching for 20 years and, although he has no
formal qualifications, he has a passion for the game that makes up for it.
18 year-old defender Anele Mhlabeni is one of the
players Kuyasa will be looking to for success on Saturday. Anele grew up
admiring his brother, Vuyolwethu Mhlabeni, who was a local soccer player. He also plays for a local club, Young
Ideas. He explains. ““Soccer is my life,
I love the sport and I am more disciplined now that I have started to take the
game more seriously. Playing in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup tournament is
particularly exciting for me. My
favourite team is Mamelodi Sundowns and I hope there will be scouts there on
Saturday as I am playing my best soccer at the moment and hope they will pick
me to attend trials..
Also at the provincial finals on Saturday will be
Ncedo High School. The school finished in third place in 2011 spending their
R500 000 on building a computer lab and bought a mini bus to transport
sports teams to attend games. Last year they did not make it to the Eastern
Cape provincial playoffs. Coach, Siphiwo
Mtshingila, says they worked hard to set that right this time round.
“We are definitely more disciplined this time
around,” he says. “In2012 we weren’t focused and over-confident after winning
the provincial title in 2011.” Should the school go all the way this year and
win the R1 million 1st prize, Mtshingila says they have ambitious
plans which include increasing the number of computers in the lab, introducing
a learner driver programme and putting up a perimeter fence.
As part of his motivation ahead of the provincial
finals, the coach has told the team that there will be scouts from the clubs
there, so the players have to do their best.
The Ncedo captain this year is Onesimo Maxegwana.
The 19 year old central defender has been playing the game since 8 years old
when he joined a local club, Real City. “I
have heard that Mamelodi Sundowns will only take players that are clever on and
off the field and I have worked hard at all my school subjects to ensure that
if I get approached I can confidently accept.
I want to be a role model to my siblings and teach them to dream big –
but I have to do that first.”
Games begin at 9am. Participating teams:
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District
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School
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Joe Gqabi
|
Malcolmes High
|
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Alfred Nzo
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Khanya Naledi Combined
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OR Tambo
|
Ndamase SSS
|
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Cacadu
|
Kuyasa Combined
|
|
Nelson Mandela Bay
|
Ncedo SSS
|
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Amathole
|
Executive Academy
|
|
Chris Hani
|
Phakamani SSS
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