SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP KICKS-OFF IN BLOEMFONTEIN

The U-19 National Finals of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup kicked off at Clive Solomon Stadium in Mangaung Metro, Bloemfontein today with 18 teams competing for the R1 million on offer for first prize.  With so much at stake the players are performing at their best and there have been some exciting games.

 

Shawn Bishop, chief scout for Mamelodi Sundowns, was impressed with the talent he saw.  “Some of the players here could walk straight into a PSL Club and play for the first team,” he said.  “There is no lack of talent and I am impressed with the way the schools are playing as a team.  There is structure, composure and good team work.”

 

Most of the schools played two matches on the first day and among those to impress early on were Pretoria's Rosina Sedibane Sports Academy, who scored 11 goals in their two matches. They beat the Northwest Province representatives Sol Plaatjie and Gaopalelwe 4-1 and 7-0, respectively.

 

Pre-tournament favourites Harmony Sports School of Virginia, Free State, are on track to defend their title after recording two wins and a draw in their three pool games on the first morning. They beat Langeberg High from the Western Cape 3-0 in their opening fixture, and  Eastern Cape's Mceba High 3-1 in their second, before being held to a goaless draw by Steenberg High from the Western Cape.

 

Harmony had the afternoon off and will have just two games tomorrow, which may give them an edge over the other sides in their group who still have three to play.

 

Gauteng's School of Excellence also came into the tournament with high hopes and they experienced mixed fortunes on day one.  They lost 2-1 to Western Cape champions Cloetesville, and then beat KwaZulu-Natal's Ezibukweni 3-1 and Sol Plaatjie of Northwest 3-0. Their Stanley Muishond, marked as one of the players to watch at the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Finals, has not disappointed and scored a hattrick against Ezibukweni from KwaZulu-Natal.

 

Results

Pool A:  Cloetesville 2 School of Excellence 1, Rosina Sedibane 4 Sol Plaatjie 1, School of Excellence 3 Ezibuweni 1, Rosina Sedibane 7 Gaopalelwe 0, Sol Plaatjie 1 Cloetesville 0, School of Excellence 3 Sol Plaatjie 0. 

Pool B: Dr R Cingo 1 Reitvlei 0, East High College 3 Lingelihle 1, Benny's Sports Academy 2 East High College 2, Lindile 1 Dr R Cingo 0,

Pool C: Harmony 3 Langberg 0, Mammoka High 0 Steenberg 0, Harmony 3 Mceba High 1, Mammoka 1 Emtshezi 0, Harmony 0 Steenberg 0