GAUTENG SCHOOLS READY FOR SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE PROVINCIAL FINALS

Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Gauteng regional finals are finally over and roads now lead to the provincial finals. 

Soweto will be hosting the Gauteng under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup provincial final on Saturday August 25 at the Nike Football Training Centre in Klipspruit (kick-off at 9am). Eight regional winners will battle it out for the R100 000 prize awarded to the provincial champion.

The winners and runners-up will both be travelling to Bloemfontein from October 2 to 6 where they will meet the top two sides of the other eight provinces to compete for the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup national title and the R1 million that goes with it.

Among those competing, is Jet Nteo Secondary School who are the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup 2010 Gauteng champions and national winners.  That year, the school won R1.1 million and most of the funds were invested in sports development. This includes a sports combination centre, ultramodern soccer field sprinkler system and other sports apparatus.  The rest of the funds were used to install a PA system, security cameras and intercom.

The school from Boipatong in the Vaal Triangle is in the provincial finals for the third consecutive  year and will face stiff competition this time round as they will be up against a number schools that have had  considerable success in this competition in the past.

Highlands North High School is another key contender to look out for.  The school is known for producing some of the country's  football stars including the likes of Oupa Manyisa currently with Orlando Pirates, Thuso Phala (Platinum Stars), Patrick Phungwayo (Orlando Pirates) and the great OJ Mabizela( former Bafana Bafana player). Highlands North is close to the Alexandra township, from which many of its players are drawn. The school won the provincial crown in 2006 and 2007 and this will be their seventh round in the tournament.

Highlands North team manager, Joseph Madia, believes the team did well to qualify for the provincial finals:  “We haven’t been lucky in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup in recent years and the last time we made it to the provincial finals was in 2009," he said.

"However, I believe we stand a good chance of getting to the National Finals this year as we have a better prepared team.  We have been participating in the tournament for few years now and it is time for us to be triumphant.”

Madia believes central midfielders Tumi Makola and Muso Kgadima will make an impact in the provincial finals “They are good dribblers and control the ball well. They also know how to provide good balls for the strikers."

The other teams that will be in action are:  Rosina Sedibane –Modiba Sports School (Laudium) Seanamarena Secondary School (Mapetla, Soweto), Jabulile Secondary School (Orange Farm), Transnet School of Excellence (Elandsfontein) and Tiisetsong Secondary School (Thokoza) and Khanya Lesedi High School (

GAUTENG INTER – DISTRICTS FINALS RESULTS

Pool A - 7 August 2012

Straus Secondary School 1 vs  Seanamarena Secondary School 2
Randfontein High School 1 (4) vs  Jabulile Secondary School 1 (5)
Tiisetsong Secondary School 0 (4) vs Senthibele Secondary School 0 (2)
George Khoza Secondary School 2 vs Rosina Sedibane – Motshwani Sports School 3
 
Pool B - 8 August 2012
Thandi Sibeko Secondary School 0 (3) vs Khanya Lesedi High School 0 (2)
I.R Lesolang High School 0  vs Jet Nteo Secondary School 3
Transnet School of Excellence 2 vs Task Academy
Highlands North High School bye