Primary schools across the
country are invited to become part of the biggest football tournament for kids
between 10 and 12 years old in the world by entering the 2015 Danone Nations
Cup.
32 countries have started the
gruelling qualifiers to identifying their team that will compete in the World
Finals in Morocco later this year and South Africa is no different.
Registration has opened and all primary schools have until the 27th
February to do so.
The competition is run under the
auspices of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) and the
Department of Basic Education. Games will begin at cluster level immediately
after registration closes. The winners will progress to Regional finals
culminating in the nine provincial winners playing in the National finals to
determine the national champion school.
“Through
the Danone Nations Cup we are reaching kids at a crucial age,” said Chantel
Ehlers, communications specialist, Danone. “We are passionate about
making a difference to people’s lives and our mission is ‘Bringing health
through food to as many people as possible,’ which we are achieving through
this tournament. We are also encouraging kids to believe in their
dreams.”
Both the 2014 winners
(Siphumelele Primary School from Inanda, KZN) and runners-up (Farrarmere
Primary School from Boksburg, Gauteng) will be back in action again this year.
For Siphumelele there are only
four positions that need to be filled as the rest of the 2014 winning team will
be back in action again this year. According to team manager, Emmanuel
Mkhize, the trip to Brazil last year has had an immeasurable impact on the
lives of all the players that went, which will help the team this year.
“The trip to Brazil to compete in
the world finals has opened the eyes of every player. They know that
there are endless opportunities awaiting them and I can see that their
confidence and fighting spirit has improved dramatically. All this helps
in their approach to the game this year,” said Mkhize. “They have learnt that
you can achieve anything if you put your mind and energy to it and remain
focused.”
The specialist coach that took
the team to Brazil last year has left and the school coach, Mr Ndwandwe, will
take charge. “The kids know him well and are used to his coaching style so it
will not make a difference,” Mkhize concluded.
Tebogo Ngakane, manager of the
Farrarmere team, is also confident his school can win the tournament this
year. He admits that being part of the Danone Nations Cup last year was
an incredible and great learning experience for the kids.
“We were proud of the team to
have reached the national finals the first time – and coming second was the
cherry on the cake. But that was last year and we have an excellent team again
that I know can do the job,” he said. “We have also brought in a new coach,
Pride Moeketsi Morosi, who has a UEFA B license, and a load of experience to go
with it, to help us.”
Unlike Siphumelele, Ngakane said
that the entire 2014 team has progressed to High school so it will be a new
team competing this year. “The under 10 team will be competing this year
and although we still have to hold trials to finalise the Danone Nations Cup
team, what I can say is that they have all played together for a number of
years, which is a help.”
To enter your school in the 2015
Danone Nations Cup contact Themba Tshabalala at SASFA: themba.tshabalala@safa.net or on
084 290 0602. You can also download the registration form on
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DNCSouthAfrica
Ends
About Danone
Danone
Southern Africa is part of the Danone Group, one of the fastest-growing food
companies in the world. Danone is present in over 120 countries across
all continents. With 160 plants and around 100,000 employees, the Danone Group
is the number one worldwide for Fresh Dairy Products. Danone’s mission is to
bring health through food to as many people as possible.
One of the core values of the Danone Nations Cup
tournament is to encourage young people to believe in their dreams. Through
this initiative Danone offers a sporting event that reaches out to and inspires
millions of children all over the world
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