There will be nine teams competing to be crowned the 2011 champions and go on to represent South Africa in the Danone Nations Cup World Final in Madrid, Spain, from 5 – 10 October.
Team profiles
Nosizwe Primary School (North West):
The school has participated in the Danone Nations Cup twice, 2011 being their first National Final appearance. According to team manager, Simon Morris, the school’s 2011 final position was achieved through confidence, believing in themselves and hard work. He commented that the team’s most difficult games were meeting last year’s Provincial Champions, Atamela Primary School in the District Finals and then Stellaland Primary, who has represented the Province at National level twice, in the Provincial Finals. Morris has been with the current team since the players were 9 years old.
Football Achievements
2011: NW Danone u12 Provincial Champions.
2010: NW McDonalds u14 Provincial Champions.
Key Players – Mlungisi Sizatha (striker): scored 20 goals this season, 16 of these in the Danone Nations Cup. Goodman Mosele (midfield): captain of the team. A confident player that was also in the 2010 team so his experience will assist his fellow players.
Backerville Primary School (Eastern Cape):
Backerville has been playing in the Danone Nations Cup for three years. The team reached the Provincial Finals in 2009 and 2010 and narrowly missed going to the National finals last year when the team was beaten by Sada High Primary School. Team manager, Phumi Lwana, is happy with their achievements this year considering the challenges they faced which included a lack of adequate transport to get to matches. But they have reached the National finals and Lwana believes that the team’s fitness and commitment will make a difference to their performance, Since The Danone Nations Cup started in 2000 no Eastern Cape team has represented South Africa in the World Finals and the Backerville boys would like to change this.
KEY PLAYERS: Right wing, Mpumezeni Mazila and striker Sandile Damase. Both players have good pace and can trouble defenders.
KEY PLAYERS: Right wing, Mpumezeni Mazila and striker Sandile Damase. Both players have good pace and can trouble defenders.
Ndongeni Primary School (KwaZulu Natal) :
First timers from Umlazi, Ndongeni reached the National Finals against all odds. The school only has a gravel field to play on that cannot be marked. To make matters worse, the players do not have football boots and playing bare feet on gravel causes many injuries so most of the time they do not have a full team. Papi Mgabi is the team manager and says the boys are excited to travel to Gauteng as this will be the first time any of them would have been outside Umlazi. Mgabi admits he has no knowledge of their opponents and would like the team todo well, but most importantly his youngsters must have fun and learn from other teams. This will give them confidence which he knows will benefit them all in years to come.
Key Players: Thabiso Langa (Defender) & Njabulo Madondo (Goalkeeper). Good defensive techniques and the two boys are best friends and have been playing football since they were six years old.
Kgwahlele Primary School (Limpopo):
Kgwahlele Primary School (Limpopo):
2011 is the Schools second appearance in the Danone Nations Cup, the first being in 2008. It was not an easy path to the National Finals, particularly in the Provincial Finals when the team competed against Dorothy Langa, the 2010 Provincial champions. Team manager Lonwabo Kekane admitted that the boys are nervous about their trip and their opponents; however he is positive that they will do their best to represent the province well.
Key Players – Right wing, Matome Baloyi who is good with crosses. Goalkeeper, Majoko Thabiso, the team’s last defence and is also good at saving penalties.
Mhlahle Primary School (Mpumalanga):
Established in 1985 in the rural town of Lillidale, Bushbuckridge, 2011 is the first time Mhlahle Primary School has participated in the Danone Nations Cup and managed to beat a more experienced Dumelani Primary School from Nkangala Region 1 - 0 to get to the National Finals.
Key Players: Skhulile Makhabela (Midfielder): Has good ball control in midfield and his crosses are powerful and on target. Bright Ndlovu (allrounder as can play in defence and attack)
Phakamisani Primary School (Western Cape):
– The school from Plettenberg Bay has been participating in the Danone Nations Cup since 2007 and competed in the National Finals for the past three years. Coach Erick Busakwe would like this year to be the one the school wins and gets to compete in the World Finals in Spain.
Key Players: Samkelo Ndawo (defender). He has height and clears the ball well.
Mofulatshepe Primary (Free State):
Free State Provincial champions since 2009, can this school finally be crowned National Champions and get to go to Spain? Established in 1993 the school has been dominating Under 12 & Under 14 schools football tournaments in Free State for the past few years.
Key Players: Strikers Phehello Lesoetsa and Kopane Mahapane. Each has scored five goals in the build up to the National Finals .
Robanyane Primary School (Northern Cape) :
Reaching the National Finals in their first appearance in the Danone Nations Cup is an excellent achievement for this school from the Batlharos Township in Kuruman. Coach, Elias Moipone, said that the school have been following the Danone Nations Cup for years but could never enter as they had no fields and could not put a team together. The school is situated in a rural area far from any other school so getting match practice was not practical and according to Moipone this makes the win that much more exciting. He believes that if they can win through to the National Finals with a team that practices on their own, who knows what they can achieve.
Key Player: Tshenolo Ross (Striker), Thato Mmutsi (central defence) and goalkeeper Siele Segopotso. Ross has the ability to take on more than one defender at the time and both Segopotso and Mmutsi will be shielding the back.
Sapebuso Primary School (Gauteng):
The school from Orlando West, first time contenders in the Danone Nations Cup, caused an upset at the Gauteng Provincial Finals when they beat Sunnyside Primary School from Pretoria as well as Bree School from Mayfair to be crowned the Provincial champions. Team manager Lahliwe Rakosa said their achievement was unbelievable. He believes that his team has an edge over the other eight competitors as they will have home ground advantage.
Key Players: Keorapetse Mothosola: left back. This 11 year old has the ability to retain the ball and has good tackling and defending skills. Goalkeeper Siyabonga Thomas, referred to by his teammates as “tiger” because of his height, has the ability to save crosses and has good composure when saving penalties.
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