Can one get a better 13th birthday present than a
trip to Poland to attend the 40-nation under-12 Danone Nations Cup football
World finals? For Thapelo Seboko this is a dream come true.
Seboko, from Mohlakeng in Randfontein, whose father is a
cleaner and mother a street sweeper, is a Grade 7 pupil at the AB Phokomope
Primary School and was lost for words when he heard he had won the trip after
entering the Danone Canon kids reporter competition on etv’s morning show,
Sunrise.
“English is my favourite subject at school, particularly
reading, and this opportunity will help me learn more,” said Seboko. “I
don’t know what to expect when I get to Poland, but I am looking forward to
seeing the country and tasting the food. Never did I think that I would
ever get to go overseas. When I told my friends I became the hero of the
township.”
Seboko comes from a football loving family. His father,
Desomond Motlogelwa, was a defender with amateur club, Home Stars, and once he
stopped playing went on to form and coach an amateur club, Majova, which he was
forced to close due to lack of funds. Seboko himself is a
football fanatic and plays for the local amateur club, Kwaal FC.
“I support Chiefs and Thapelo supports Pirates so we are at
war when these two side play,” laughs Motlogelwa. “But football is always
the winner so after every game we talk about the team that played the best
football, and why, and that team is the winner. We like to watch
international football as well and Barcelona is our best team.”
Motlogelwa is particularly excited because both his sons have
got to travel while still in Primary School. “My older son, who is now
16, went to Cape Town when he was the same age as Thapelo to participate in an
Athletics event. Now it is Thapelo’s turn and I am a proud father.”
On a sombre note, the person that Seboko looks up to the most
is Mrs Pharule, his Maths and EMS teacher. “She is my favourite teacher
because she is so kind and generous. Lots of the children at school do
not get any food at home and she helps and gives whatever she can.”
Motlogelwa explains that the school does have a feeding scheme, a government
initiative, which gives all children at least one meal a day.
Sebeko will join the 14 players from Sinamova Public Primary
School from KwaZulu-Natal on the trip. Sinamova became eligible to
participate in the World Finals after winning the South African Danone Nations Cup.
The team will leave South Africa on the 4 September and the World Finals will
take place in Warsaw from 7 to 9 September. Sebeko could well get to meet
the Danone Nations Cup ambassador, Zinedine Zidane.
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