Georgedale Full Service School will represent Pinetown in the Danone Nations Cup KwaZulu-Natal provincial final

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Georgedale Full Service School, from Mpumalanga, will be representing the Pinetown district at the under-12 Danone Nations Cup KwaZulu-Natal provincial finals scheduled for the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Pinetown on Saturday 28^th July.

Their coach, Ayanda Mthembu, heard about the tournament from the teacher’s union and he entered the school for the first time this year.

“Last year I acquired a SAFA Level D (introduction to coaching) qualification, which focuses on how to develop a player, game planning and game structure, and in 2016 I studied sport administration. So, I believe it is the right time for us to enter such a prestigious competition,” said Mthembu.  “The fact that we have managed to get through to the provincial finals in our first year in the tournament is testament to this.”

Mthembu was spurred on to study sports management after seeing how easily the youth in his area were being led astray.  “There is a lot of poverty and unemployment in Mpumalanga, where I was born and brought up, so I decided to put all my effort into getting the youth off the streets and give them hope and encouragement as well as teach them how to have fun and this is so easily achieved through soccer,” he said.

“By getting involved in the Danone Nations Cup we can take this a step further and teach under-12’s how to dream, set goals and also introduce them to different areas and let them meet other kids from different part of the province,” he said.

Being new to the competition, understanding the rules and regulations was a challenge, so Mthembu sought assistance from the coach of the 2017 national champions, Mophela Primary School, who are also based in Mpumalanga district. “Siyabonga Nzimande has helped me familiarize myself with the rules and regulations of the Danone Nations Cup.  Mophela played in the world finals in the USA last year and Siyabonga had me spellbound with stories and what he learnt there. Who knows, we might just win the trip to Spain!”

The Danone Nations Cup is 7-a-side tournament, played on a smaller field. “We are now ready and fully aligned to the rules of the tournament,” Mthembu said, “so will give the more experienced teams a run for their money.”

Danone must be commended for what they do to help kids in the townships and rural areas, giving them inspiration to achieve, Mthembu said.

Their key player is defender, Ntando Nketu. “He is a hard worker and very skilled and he motivates and helps his teammates. He sets a great example for the others,” Mthembu said. As for himself, he wants to be recognised as the best coach at the nationals!

Participating schools:

DISTRICT	SCHOOL
AMAJUBA	Esididini PS
HARRY GWALA	Summerfield PS
ILEMBE	Shakaskraal SA PS
KING-CETSHWAYO	Muzuvukile PS
PINETOWN	Georgetown Full Service School
UGU	Dunywa PS
UMGUNGUNDLOVU	Nhlambamasoka PS
UMKHANYAKUDE	Qomukuphila PS
UMLAZI	Sherwood PS
UMZINYATHI	Lewis Combined School
UTHUKILA	Jabulani PS
ZULULAND	Ningizimu PS

 Ends.