Can Harmony increase their Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup winnings this year?

To date, Harmony High School from Virginia in the Free State is the most successful school in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, having won R2,2 million in prize money between 2010 and 2012. According to Team Manager Hector Mokhali, the team competing in the 2013 Free State Provincial finals, happening on Saturday, 7 September, at the Mangaung Outdoor Sports  Centre in Bloemfontein, might be young and inexperienced, but have what it takes to win some of the R3.2 prize money on offer this year.

The school won R700 000 in 2010 after finishing in second place and winning the provincial finals, in 2011 the school won R1 million first prize and in 2012 finished in third place taking home R500 000.   “The funds we have won to date have made a massive difference to the school learner’s lives, and the surrounding community,” said Mokhali.  “We have a 44-seater bus, 3 mini-buses, a TV and projector, sprinkler system to keep our sports fields in top condition and we have even donated R20 000 worth of sports kit to an underprivileged school in our community.”

But Mokhali says there is still a lot that is needed and the school Under-19 team is working hard at training to finish in first place next Saturday.  “We want a projector in every classroom,” he said.

Harmony won the Lejwelepotsoa district playoffs, despite a team that consists mainly of new players.  “These players are new to this competition and will be a little bit nervous, but we are expecting them to seize the opportunity, and follow in the previous players footsteps.” The team has played 14 games in the tournament so far, and has won them all. “Our aim is to continue our winning streak,” Mokhali said. “At the same time, we encourage our kids to have fun.  Commitment is what has brought us to where we are today.”

Mokhali believes the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup plays a huge role in soccer development in the country. “I think it helps young players as well as schools and community at large.  South African soccer has improved as a result and it particularly benefits the rural areas as they get the opportunity to see the best coaching and players in the country and improve their own game. Coaches also get to attend SAFA coaching clinics and then go back into the communities to put this into practise.

However Mokhali believes South Africa still has a long way to go to compete internationally.  “In many parts of the world there are extensive and sophisticated programmes with kids entering them from the age of 5. We do not have that in our country. Our clubs are also not as wealthy and don’t have very sophisticated programmes in place. That’s why competitions like the Sanlam Kay Motsepe School Cup are so important,” he said.

Competing teams:

Fezile Dabi	Dr Reginald Cingo High
Lejweleputsoa	Harmony High
Thabo Mofutsanyane	Mohato Secondary
Xhariep	Lere la thuto
Xhariep	Ipetleng High
Motheo

About the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup:

·       The tournament is run under the auspices of the South Africa Football Association (SASFA)

   Named after prominent businessman Patrice Motsepe’s late mother, the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup offers the biggest prize money at school level in Africa (R3.4 million in total). 

·       The sponsors are:  Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu-Botho Community Development Trust.

·       The primary objective of the tournament is to revive the culture of school football amongst students between the age of 16 and 19 years old.

·       The tournament also gives players the opportunity to showcase their skills to soccer scouts with the talented players being recruited into development structures to be nurtured and shaped into professional players.