SAFA TRANSNET FOOTBALL SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE CROWNED 2012 SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP CHAMPIONS WINNING R1 MILLION

The School of Excellence, based in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, has been quiet for the past few years as they struggled to get back to the winning days of the past when players like Steven Pienaar attended.  But this changed on Saturday when the school was crowned the 2012 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup champions after beating East High College of Excellence from Mpumalanga 6 – 5 on penalties.  The game was locked 2-all at the end of regulation time.

The R1 million prize money – and the extra R100 000 the school won  as Gauteng provincial champions – has come at just the right time as long time sponsors, Transnet, will no longer be helping to fund the school.  Having Khabo Zondo, a well-respected and experienced professional coach at the school contributed to the team’s success.

“We have worked hard over the past month to get on top form,” said Zondo.  “The boys didn’t even take the holiday break but stayed at school to train. What pleased me the most about the National Finals was the high standard of football.  Furthermore, there are an increasing number of Academies opening which can only be good for South African football.”

The school further took home three individual awards:  Mbulelo Ngcobe (Best Goal Keeper), Stanley Muishond (Top Goal Scorer – 6 goals) and Paseka Sekebe (Player of the Tournament).

Sekebe was excited to have been named the ‘Player of the Tournament’.  He is hoping that one of the scouts that attended the tournament will offer him a contract as his greatest ambition is to play at the highest level of the game.  Although he stressed that he would like to continue studying after school (as he wants to be a successful businessman one day) as well as open his own academy to help develop more players so that South Africa will be a top football playing country like Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Italy and the likes.

East High coach, Petrus Ndlovu, was happy to make it to the National Finals and says this was a learning curve for him and he will be back next year, with most of the same squad. He believes East High will win the second time around.  “This is our second outing in this tournament.  Last year we didn’t make it to the National Finals and it was my priority to do well in 2012.  I then selected my key four players and went out to find players to beef up the squad.  Most of the squad will be back next year as I have a two year strategy.

East High team captain, Lebohang Maphanga, is happy to have won R700 000 (i.e. R600 000 for second place and R100 000 as provincial champions) for the school:  “I have been with the school for four years and will now focus on my final exams as I want to do well to be able to go to Wits next year and study for my chartered accounting degree. Through the money I helped win for the school I have left a legacy behind which I am proud of.”

The Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Finals lived up to expectations as an exciting and entertaining football development tournament.  “Sanlam understands the value of development and the opportunity it gives youngsters to achieve what they hope for,” said Frank Louw, Sponsorship Manager at Sanlam. “We believe that the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup creates opportunities that have a positive impact on the youth, and provides exposure to scouts for talented players.  This National Finals achieved the objectives and I am confident that a number of the players from this tournament will become high profile names in the near future.”

In the other games of the day Rosina Sedibane – Modiba Sports School  beat Harmony High School  1 – 0 to finish in third position winning R500 000 while Harmony clinched fourth position winning R400 000 and R100 000 as Free State provincial champions.

FINAL RESULTS

 
THIRD/FOURTH PLAY-OFF
Rosina Sedibane – Modiba Sports School 1 v Harmony High School 0
GOAL:  Thabang Konaite
 
FINAL
School of Excellence (2) 6  v East High (2) 5
Goals:  SOE:  Richard Moremi, Aubrey Modiba
Goals:  East High:  Muzi Thabotha, Khulekani Mashego
 
INDIVIDUAL PRIZE WINNERS
 
Best Goal Keeper: Mbulelo Ngcobe (School of Excellence)
Top Goal Scorer: Stanley Muishond 6 Goals (School of Excellence)
Player of the tournament : Paseka Sekebe (School of Excellence)
Coach of the tournaments: Petrus Ndlovu (East High College of Excellence)
Fair Play Award: Gaopalelwe Secondary School from North West
 
FINAL POSITIONS
 

POSITION	SCHOOL
1	School of Excellence (GP)  R1 million + R100 000 as Provincial Champions
2	East High (MP) R600 000 + R100 000 as Provincial Champions
3	Rosina (GP) (R500 00)
4	Harmony High (FS)  (R400 000) + R100 000 as Provincial Champions
5	Steenberg Secondary School (WC)   R100 000 as Provincial Champions
6	Ezibukweni High School (KZN)  R100 000 as Provincial Champions
7	Lingilihle Secondary School (EC)   R100 000 as Provincial Champions
8	Mmamoka Secondary School  (LP)
9	Lindile Seconadry School (PM)
10	Dr Reginald Cingo Comprehensive School (FS)
11	Emtshezi Secondary School (KZN)
12	Cloestesville Secondary School (WC)
13	Rietvale High School (NC)     R100 000 as Provincial Champions
14	Mnceba Secondary School (EC)
15	Benny Care Sports Academy (LP)    R100 000 as Provincial Champions
16	Sol Plaatje Secondary School (NW)  R100 000 as Provincial Champions
17	Gaopalelwe Secondary School (WC)
18	Langberg Secondary School (NC)