The under-12 Danone Nations Cup Free State Provincials
Finals, which take place on 12 April at the Clive Solomon Stadium,
Bloemfontein, should prove interesting with a number of schools reaching this
stage of the tournament for the first time and Credo Primary School, from
Sasolburg, being the first team since the tournament began in 2000 to be
coached by a female, Mrs Dikeledi Sothwane.
Credo Primary has been participating in the Danone
Nations Cup for a number of years but was always knocked out at the cluster
level. Sothwane credits the win to the new team she has selected and a
change in the coaching style. “This year I have a totally new team and I
can see that the boys are driven, dedicated and play soccer with passion."
“Further, this year I decided to involve the kids in
the coaching, for example, I get them to help me come up with new warm up
exercises and they can decide what they want to work on at each practice
session. I have noticed that they have more interest in the game. So much
so that they start training before I even arrive at the training grounds, they
are truly dedicated," said Sothwane.
Sothwane began coaching 8 years ago after growing up
with an interest in the game. 'It’s not difficult being a woman in a man's game,"
she said. "The male coaches that I have come across actually commend me
for taking on such a demanding and stressful job and they see me as a coach
regardless of me being female."
Wistieshoek Primary School's, from
Phuthaditjhaba, has been participating in the Danone Nations Cup for the past
four years and, like Credo, they have qualified for the provincial for the
first time.
Team manager, Zwelibanzi Zimu, is proud of the
boys; "It has been our dream to progress further in
this tournament and we have achieved this," Zimu said. "I have a
strong, experienced team this year and I think they can do exceptionally well
and get all the way to the national finals," Zimu said.
Letsibolo Primary School of Wesselsbron is another
school playing in the provincial finals for the first time. Their manager,
Vilembo Molefi, says reaching this level is a huge achievement for the school
and the team. "We hosted the regional finals and the
community came in numbers to support our team which helped us win through to
the provincials," he said.
Midfielder, Bohlokwa Matsipe, who joined the team this
year, is one of Letsibolo’s top players.
"The Danone Nations Cup is a lot of fun,” said
Matsipe. “I have really enjoyed meeting players from other schools.
My game has improved with the new coach. I train hard every day, listen
to instructions and improve wherever I need to improve. My dream is to play
professionally so I will continue to play well in every game that I play in so
that I can be scouted and go into an academy. I think if I’m
associated with an academy I will have a better chance of playing soccer for a
professional team."
The schools that will compete in the Free State Danone
Nations Cup finals are:
• Credo Primary-Fezile Dabi District
• Witsieshoek Primary-Thabo Mofutsanyane District
• Letsibolo Primary-Lejweleputswa District
• Bolokehang Intermediate School-Motheo District
• Meqheleng Primary-Thabo Mofutsanyane District
•
Luckoff Primary -Xhariep District.
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