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This year marks the 10TH anniversary of
the under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup and it is to be launched in style
on Saturday, 29 April, with reigning champions, Clapham High School taking on
2012 champions the School of Excellence, both from Gauteng, in an exhibition
match at Loftus Stadium’ at 6pm.
The game
will precede the Pretoria derby between Sundowns and Supersport United, kick
off for that game is 8.15pm. To make the day a memorable one, Sundowns has
further offered the first 500 fans, dressed in Sundowns colours that arrive to
watch the curtain raiser a free ticket to the later game. Gates open at 4pm.
The tournament is co-funded by Sanlam, the Motsepe
Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu-Botho Community Development Trust and managed
by the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) and the Department of
Basic Education.
The Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup plays an
invaluable role in the development of football in South Africa, providing
organised, competitive competition for the schools involved. It also, through
its prize money, makes a major contribution to community development.
This year, R3,4 million will be paid out to
schools, with the proviso that they use the money to fund educational and
community projects in their areas that will benefit the wider community on a
long term basis.
The prize money increased dramatically five years
ago and in that time over R13.6 million has been utilised in this way by the
winning teams and this year the winning school at the national finals
tournament will walk away with R1 million. The second, third and fourth placed
schools will receive R600 000, R500 000 and R400 000 respectively. The nine
provincial winners will each receive R100 000 for their efforts.
The highlight of the 10th anniversary
of the tournament is likely to be the on-going rivalry between Clapham High
School, the current champions, the School of Excellence and the most successful
team in the history of the tournament, Harmony High School from Virginia in the
Free State.
The Mamelodi Sundowns Development Academy players
are schooled at Clapham, while The School of Excellence is a sports academy
that has supplied many players to PSL, First division as well as second and
third division clubs over the years.
Mamelodi Sundown’s Percy Tau was part of the
Clapham team in 2013 and was named the player of the tournament. He has scored
2 goals for Sundowns this year.
The tournament is named in memory of Kay Motsepe,
the mother of prominent businessman Patrice Motsepe. The aim of the tournament
is to contribute to the development of South African soccer and to nurture
future soccer stars. It strives to unite the country’s youth through the shared
love of the game and to promote football excellence.
Sanlam’s
sponsorship manager Frank Louw says the company 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 that the tournament provides
exposure to professional scouts for talented players,” he said. “Importantly, it also contributes to enhanced
learning through improved educational facilities for the benefit of the rest of
the pupils in the participating schools and for the benefit of the broader
community.”
Kenneth
Makhanya, a representative of the Motsepe Foundation and Ubuntu Botho Trusts,
said the Motsepe Foundation endorses the objectives and rationale behind the
sponsorship. “Our president, Mr Patrice Motsepe, initiated the Sanlam Kay
Motsepe Cup in memory of his mother and to recognize the integral role she
played in his life – encouraging him through school, then university and helping
him through the dark times as well. This is what we want for the South African
youth. Sanlam share that vision and it has created an ideal partnership.”
The
tournament is organised by the South African Schools Football Association
(Safsa). Their president, Mandla Mazibuko, said they are very grateful to
Sanlam and Mr. Motsepe for their generosity. “Through this tournament we are
able to educate learners through the medium of sport, and to ensure the future
of the game,” he said.
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