The
Free State provincial finals in the under-15 COPA Coca-Cola football
competition take place at the Edenburg Stadium in Edenburg on Saturday, June 30
(kickoff at 9.00am).
This
is the eighth of the nine provincial finals, with the nine eventual winners
going through to the national finals in Johannesburg from July 12 to 14.
2011
Free State provincial and ultimate national champions, HTS Louis Botha, from
the Motheo Region, will be back again this year. The school has been competing
in the tournament since 2009 and have reached the provincial finals three
times. With the prize money they won last year the school purchased soccer
boots and kit as well as training equipment.
Prince
Fani, who has a South African Football Association (SAFA) Introductory Football
Coaching Certificate and degree in Sports Science, has been head coach at the
school for seven years and has worked with teams from Under 10 up to the Under
19. “COPA Coca-Cola is our favourite tournament and we have done
exceptionally well. This year is different in that it is an Under-15
tournament, but I have faith in my youngsters and believe we could well reach
the National Finals again. I have put in some extra training sessions to
prepare them better.”
HTS
Louis Botha is a Sports Academy and has produced many sportsmen that have gone
on to become professionals such as Alan Donald (cricket). Football was
only introduced to the school more recently and already produced talented
players that have joined local Clubs. Mohau Molefe and Sedilaka Mokone
are with the Bloemfontein Celtic (Premier Soccer League) under-19 development
team whereas Wandile Tjemolane has joined Roses United (Second Division) and
Samkelo Dladla with United Football Club (National First Division). “We have
only been playing football for a few years now and we plan to make a huge
impact in the Free State by providing skilled and well trained players.”
Key players Fani believes will one day become professionals include: Gareth
Pietersen, defender and team captain, who reads the game well and is a good
team motivator. Defi Fcholtz(striker) has an eye for goals and makes good runs.
Tsietsi Ramosedi (midfielder) makes accurate ball passes, dribbles well
and is a good ball distributor.
Other participating schools are Nkgopolleng High School from Fezile Dabi
Region,Concordia High School from Lejweleputswa Region, Tswela Pele ka Thuto
High School and Samuel Johnson High School both from Xhariep Region and
Thabo Mofutsanyane Region's representative still to be selected. Kick-off is at
09:00 am at Edenburg Stadium in Edenburg.
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