A Gauteng/Free State Sanlam Kay Motesepe Schools Cup Final

.  It was a day of high’s and low’s for the 18 teams that competed in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup play-offs happening at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, Durban.  For the semi-finalists it was a case of playing for the R1 million or R500 000.  But in the end Clapham (Gauteng) beat the most successful team in the tournament to date, Harmony 3 – 0 and national final first timers, Louis Botha beat Rosina Sedibane 1 – 0, to meet each other in the final match tomorrow.

For Rosina Sedibane, the school that educates the SuperSport United Academy players, the defeat by Louis Botha was a disappointment, but for Harmony, making it to the semi-finals was a great feat.  “My boys did a great job,” said coach, Pitso Mokoena. “This year I brought my U17 team.  None of them have played in this tournament before yet they rose to the occasion and showed character and a fighting spirit.  I am a happy coach.”

Mokoena would like to finish in third position, and win the school R500 000, but his focus is already turning to final exams.  “We will leave Durban with happy memories, but now it is time to study.  I do not want these boys to follow in my footsteps.  I gave us school at 17 years old and joined Free State Stars, seven years later I went to Amazulu, ending at Bloemfontein Celtic. Once my career was over I was unemployed for years until I was offered a job at Harmony.  I then had to complete my matric with the team I was coaching at the time!  I have also gone on to get my SAFA Level 1 coaching certificate.  I have a lot to teach my players both on and off the field.”

Based on statistics, the odds slightly favour Clapham in the final.  Clapham won all their games and scored 23 goals in seven games conceding just one.  Louis Botha drew two of their games and only scored 14 goals conceding two. But there are no guarantees and it will all boil down to who played the best on the day.

Harmony and Rosina Sedibane will play for third and fourth place.

But the biggest low must be the disqualification of East High from Mpumalanga due to fielding an ineligible player.

Tomorrow’s activities will commence at 9am with entertainment by Naima Kay, Professor and Big Nuz followed by the third/fourth play off at 11am.  There will be more entertainment prior to the final which will kick-off at 1pm.  Gates open at 9am and entrance is free.

Results:

QF: Clapham 2 vs Okiep 0

                Goals:  Motoro Monyai, Percy Tau

QF: Harmony 0 vs Benny’s School 0

                Harmony won 15 – 14 on penalties

QF: Louis Botha 1 vs Mondale 1

                Louis  Botha won 3 – 0 on Penalties

                Goals:  LB:  Ernest Mabathoana

                Mon:  Clinton Herwel

QF: Rosina Sedibane 1 vs Cloetesville 0

                Goal:  Sikhabuzo Mazibuko

Pos 9 – 12:  Freedom Park 1 vs Rietvale 1

                Freedom Park won 5 – 4 on penalties

                Goals:  FP:  Thembani Gwala,

                Riet:  Angelo Van Rooi

Pos 9 – 12: Eric Nxumalo 2  vs Executive Academy 0

                Goals:  Funani Mathabela, Sydney Moyane

Pos 13 – 16: Sibongumusa 1  vs FK Tjiane 2

                Goals:  Sib:  Siyanda Ngubane

                FK:  Calvin Mathebe, Dumisane Shongwe

Pos 13 – 16:  Sebetwane 1  vs Ndamase 1

                Ndamande won 3 – 2 on penalties

                Goals:  Seb: Tshepiso Lobelo

                Nda:  Ayakha Stamp

Pos 17 – 18: Welebasha buy (Welebashe finishes in 17^th position)

Pos 5 – 8: Okiep 1  vs Benny’s Sport 1

                Okiep won 5 – 3 on penalties

                Goals:  OK: Romario Waterboer,

                BS:  Lfentshwe Munyadziwa

Pos 5 – 8:Mondale 3  vs Cloetesville 0

                Goals:  Dilan Fransch, Lance Beyers, Brandon Dean

Pos 15 – 16: Sibongumusa 1  vs Sebetwane 1

                Sebetwane won 3 – 1 on penalties

                Goals Sib:Siyanda Ngubane,

                Seb:  Itumeleng Mosikare

Pos 9 – 10:  Freedom Park 0 vs Eric Nxumalo 2

                Goals:  Bonginkosi Mkhabela, Nyiko Phoko

Pos 11 – 12: Rietvale 1 vs Executive Academy 1

                Rietvale won 4 – 2 on penalties

                Goals:  Riet:  Angelo Van Rooi,

                EA: Bonga Klaushe

Pos 13 – 14: FK Tjiane 1 vs Ndamase 0

                Goal:  Dumisani Shongwe

Pos 5 – 6: Okiep 0  vs Mondale 0

                Mondale won 3 – 1 on penalties

Pos 7 – 8:  Cloetesville 0  vs Benny’s Sports 0

                Benny’s won 4 – 2 on penalties

Semifinal: Clapham 3 vs Harmony 0

                Goals: Khyelihle Shozi, Ntando Ngubane (2)

Semifinal: Louis Botha 1 vs Rosina Sedibane 0

                Goal: Aaron Mzethu

FINAL LOG POSITIONS

18.          East High

17.          Welabasha

16.          Sibongumusa

15.          Sebetwane

14.          Ndamase

13.          FK Tjiane

12.          Executive Academy

11.          Rietvale

10.          Freedom Park

9.             Eric Nxumalo

8.             Cloetesville

7.             Benny’s Sports Academy

6.             Okiep

5.         Mondale

Ends.

About the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup:

·       The tournament is run under the auspices of the South Africa Football Association (SASFA)

   Named after prominent businessman Patrice Motsepe’s late mother, the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup offers the biggest prize money at school level in Africa (R3.4 million in total). 

·       The sponsors are:  Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu-Botho Community Development Trust.

·       The primary objective of the tournament is to revive the culture of school football amongst students between the age of 16 and 19 years old.

·       The tournament also gives players the opportunity to showcase their skills to soccer scouts with the talented players being recruited into development structures to be nurtured and shaped into professional players.