Bloemfontein’s HTS Louis Botha beat Dr
Reginald Cingo Secondary School from Kroonstad on penalties to emerge as the
under-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Free State provincial champions. They
take home R100 000 prize money and automatically qualify for the national
finals where they get the chance to increase their winnings. In terms of
the rules of the competition Dr Reginald Cingo also qualify for the provincial
finals.
HTS Louis Botha last won the title, and went
on to finish second in the national finals of the tournament in 2013, and their
coach, Prince Sani, said they were always confident they would make it to the
nationals again this year.
“The team has worked hard since the beginning
of the year and we came into the provincials with a positive and clear attitude
and confident players,” he said.
And, playing on their home ground also
helped. “We were playing on a field that we are familiar with, and had the
support of our students, parents and members of the 2013 team who came to
watch,” Sani said.
The finals did not go completely smoothly –
they had to play their last two games with 10 men after a player received a red
card – but the coach said they fought all the way till the end.
“This year the competition was extremely
tough, I must congratulate all the schools that made it to the provincials. I
believe the best 6 schools were showcased on Saturday.”
Louis Botha were drawn in the same pool as
close rivals Grey College, whom they played twice before the finals, and beat
them both times. During the provincial finals the game ended with neither
team managing to score which shows that Grey came prepared, Sani said. “They
have improved from the last time we met them, all the schools came well
prepared.”
Louis Botha met Dr Reginald Cingo in the
final match and Sani said they were their toughest competition on the day. The
game ended in a 1-all draw but his side managed to win on penalties.
“Every year the level of schools soccer in
the Free State improves. It was definitely better this year than in 2013 when
we last won the provincials.”
Louis Botha was in a tough group, along with
Grey College and Concordia High School –the team that eliminated the defending
champions, Harmony, this year.
“I was wary of Concordia, they had beaten
Harmony, one of the strongest teams in Free State, and I didn’t know anything
about them,” Sani said.
“I did speak to their coach, and did some
research, and the first league game was Grey v Concordia so I could watch them
and study their style of play. They were a challenge, but we managed to beat
them 1-0.”
As far as the nationals are concerned, this
team has been at the national level before in other tournaments, Sani points
out, so they have experience in that regard.
“But the Kay Motsepe is different. This is
the most prestigious tournament and we need to apply a different approach. The
team has been watching the recording of the 2013 final game against Clapham. It
motivates them to put in 110% in each and every game,” Sani said.
“I have told them that it is their time rise
to the occasion, this year we are not looking to be runners- up. The 1st prize
which is what every school will be aiming for. I know that Gauteng and Western
Cape always brings the best schools. That’s where the challenge will come
from!” he said.
Results
Grey College 2 vs. Concordia 2
Grey College 0 vs. HTS Louis Botha 0
Concordia 0 vs. HTS Louis Botha 1
Dr Cingo 4 vs. Ikanyegeng 0
Dr Cingo 1 vs. Manthatisi 0
Ikanyegeng 0 vs. Manthatisi 1
Final
HTS Louis Botha 1 (6) vs. Dr Cingo 1 (5)
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