Sundowns Academy, Clapham High School, win R1 million as 2013 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Champions

Gauteng’s Clapham High School took the R1 million first prize after winning the 2013 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup.  They beat Louis Botha Technical High School 2 – 0 in the final.  To hand out the trophy was Mr Patrice Motsepe, owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, the club that most of the players belong to.

“I am so happy,” said leading goal scorer, Khayelihle Shozi, who finished on 7 goals. “To play before my president and all the scouts that put me where I am today was an honour.  I wanted to show them that the decision to bring me into the Sundowns Academy was the right one.”

Clapham finished the tournament winning every game they played scoring an impressive 27 goals in 8 games averaging over 3 a game. 

Louis Botha might have finished in second place but they were very pleased with this and the R600 000 that went with it.  Coach, Prince Sani believes that it is not about winning but the experience.  “This is our first time in this tournament and to get this far is fantastic.  Further, I only formed the team this year so they are new and we will keep working and will definitely be back next year.  This is such a good experience for the boys.”

Sani believed that playing in the final against a team that is so tactical and technical  astute only helped his boys see what true professional football is all about.  “We have all loved our trip to Durban and will most definitely go back home wiser footballers.”

Meanwhile Rosina Sedibane Modiba beat Harmony High school 2 – 1 to clinch third place. “We travelled to Durban with Clapham, who beat us to win the provincial finals, and have built a really good relationship with them.  We were hoping to meet them in the final, but finishing third is also good.  The R500 000 will come in handy to further improve the school.

Results:

THIRD/FOURTH PLAY-OFF

Harmony 0  vs Rosina 2

Goals: Sifiso Nkosi, Kabelo Seriba

FINAL

Clapham 2 vs Louis Botha 1

CHS:  Avela Cezu, Montoro Monyai

FINAL LOG POSITIONS

1.             Clapham

2.             Louis Botha

3.             Rosina

4.             Harmony

5.             Mondale

6.             Okiep

7.             Benny’s Sports Academy

8.             Cloetesville

9.             Eric Nxumalo

10.          Freedom Park

11.          Rietvale

12.          Executive Academy

13.          FK Tjiane

14.          Ndamase

15.          Sebetwane

16.          Sibongumusa

17.          Welabasha

18.          East High

A Gauteng/Free State Sanlam Kay Motesepe Schools Cup Final

.  It was a day of high’s and low’s for the 18 teams that competed in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup play-offs happening at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, Durban.  For the semi-finalists it was a case of playing for the R1 million or R500 000.  But in the end Clapham (Gauteng) beat the most successful team in the tournament to date, Harmony 3 – 0 and national final first timers, Louis Botha beat Rosina Sedibane 1 – 0, to meet each other in the final match tomorrow.

For Rosina Sedibane, the school that educates the SuperSport United Academy players, the defeat by Louis Botha was a disappointment, but for Harmony, making it to the semi-finals was a great feat.  “My boys did a great job,” said coach, Pitso Mokoena. “This year I brought my U17 team.  None of them have played in this tournament before yet they rose to the occasion and showed character and a fighting spirit.  I am a happy coach.”

Mokoena would like to finish in third position, and win the school R500 000, but his focus is already turning to final exams.  “We will leave Durban with happy memories, but now it is time to study.  I do not want these boys to follow in my footsteps.  I gave us school at 17 years old and joined Free State Stars, seven years later I went to Amazulu, ending at Bloemfontein Celtic. Once my career was over I was unemployed for years until I was offered a job at Harmony.  I then had to complete my matric with the team I was coaching at the time!  I have also gone on to get my SAFA Level 1 coaching certificate.  I have a lot to teach my players both on and off the field.”

Based on statistics, the odds slightly favour Clapham in the final.  Clapham won all their games and scored 23 goals in seven games conceding just one.  Louis Botha drew two of their games and only scored 14 goals conceding two. But there are no guarantees and it will all boil down to who played the best on the day.

Harmony and Rosina Sedibane will play for third and fourth place.

But the biggest low must be the disqualification of East High from Mpumalanga due to fielding an ineligible player.

Tomorrow’s activities will commence at 9am with entertainment by Naima Kay, Professor and Big Nuz followed by the third/fourth play off at 11am.  There will be more entertainment prior to the final which will kick-off at 1pm.  Gates open at 9am and entrance is free.

Results:

QF: Clapham 2 vs Okiep 0

                Goals:  Motoro Monyai, Percy Tau

QF: Harmony 0 vs Benny’s School 0

                Harmony won 15 – 14 on penalties

QF: Louis Botha 1 vs Mondale 1

                Louis  Botha won 3 – 0 on Penalties

                Goals:  LB:  Ernest Mabathoana

                Mon:  Clinton Herwel

QF: Rosina Sedibane 1 vs Cloetesville 0

                Goal:  Sikhabuzo Mazibuko

Pos 9 – 12:  Freedom Park 1 vs Rietvale 1

                Freedom Park won 5 – 4 on penalties

                Goals:  FP:  Thembani Gwala,

                Riet:  Angelo Van Rooi

Pos 9 – 12: Eric Nxumalo 2  vs Executive Academy 0

                Goals:  Funani Mathabela, Sydney Moyane

Pos 13 – 16: Sibongumusa 1  vs FK Tjiane 2

                Goals:  Sib:  Siyanda Ngubane

                FK:  Calvin Mathebe, Dumisane Shongwe

Pos 13 – 16:  Sebetwane 1  vs Ndamase 1

                Ndamande won 3 – 2 on penalties

                Goals:  Seb: Tshepiso Lobelo

                Nda:  Ayakha Stamp

Pos 17 – 18: Welebasha buy (Welebashe finishes in 17^th position)

Pos 5 – 8: Okiep 1  vs Benny’s Sport 1

                Okiep won 5 – 3 on penalties

                Goals:  OK: Romario Waterboer,

                BS:  Lfentshwe Munyadziwa

Pos 5 – 8:Mondale 3  vs Cloetesville 0

                Goals:  Dilan Fransch, Lance Beyers, Brandon Dean

Pos 15 – 16: Sibongumusa 1  vs Sebetwane 1

                Sebetwane won 3 – 1 on penalties

                Goals Sib:Siyanda Ngubane,

                Seb:  Itumeleng Mosikare

Pos 9 – 10:  Freedom Park 0 vs Eric Nxumalo 2

                Goals:  Bonginkosi Mkhabela, Nyiko Phoko

Pos 11 – 12: Rietvale 1 vs Executive Academy 1

                Rietvale won 4 – 2 on penalties

                Goals:  Riet:  Angelo Van Rooi,

                EA: Bonga Klaushe

Pos 13 – 14: FK Tjiane 1 vs Ndamase 0

                Goal:  Dumisani Shongwe

Pos 5 – 6: Okiep 0  vs Mondale 0

                Mondale won 3 – 1 on penalties

Pos 7 – 8:  Cloetesville 0  vs Benny’s Sports 0

                Benny’s won 4 – 2 on penalties

Semifinal: Clapham 3 vs Harmony 0

                Goals: Khyelihle Shozi, Ntando Ngubane (2)

Semifinal: Louis Botha 1 vs Rosina Sedibane 0

                Goal: Aaron Mzethu

FINAL LOG POSITIONS

18.          East High

17.          Welabasha

16.          Sibongumusa

15.          Sebetwane

14.          Ndamase

13.          FK Tjiane

12.          Executive Academy

11.          Rietvale

10.          Freedom Park

9.             Eric Nxumalo

8.             Cloetesville

7.             Benny’s Sports Academy

6.             Okiep

5.         Mondale

Ends.

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.

Sundowns Academy player shines at Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Finals

Khayelihle Shozi, the 19 year old striker from Clapham High School, and in the Mamelodi Sundowns Academy, has scored 8 goals in four games making him the top goalscorer at the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup national finals happening at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, Durban. Clapham beat Harmony, from the Free State, 1 – 0 today to top Group B with one more game to go.

It was touch and go as to whether Shozi would even travel to Durban with the team as he has been out of action for three months due to injury.  But he was tested just prior to departure and declared fit and has made a mark for himself.

Shozi hails from Pinetown and was brought to Mamelodi Sundowns in 2010 by his mentor, Mabhuti Khanyeza , a renowned player who was with Sundowns and now with Mpumalanga Black Aces.   “I played for Rockers FC, owned by Mabhuti, since I was 6 years old,” he said. “He took me in and groomed me into what I am today.  Not many kids from Klarotha get the chance to be mentored by a professional and then be part of an academy like Sundowns.  My biggest problem is that I am not the best academic and Sundowns demand good results as well as good football.”

The youngster, now in Grade 11 at Clapham, is pleased with his performance in the tournament to date.  “Scoring the goals is a morale booster for me, as well as the team, and it has inspired me to do even better,” however he admits to feeling a bit weary after playing three hard games yesterday and will play two again today. 

“Before I left home I set a goal, and that was to win the highest goalscorer and player of the tournament awards.  I am on the way, but we still have two days of football ahead of us and there are some excellent players here so it will not be easy,” said Shozi. 

Clapham won their first game against FK Tjiane (Limpopo) 9 – 1, then beat Rietvale (Northern Cape) 6 – 0 ending the day with a 1 – 0 lead against Freedom Park (North West). The second day saw them beat Harmony (Free State) 1 – 0 to top the log.  Their final league game will pit them against Sebetwane (North West). 

“Each and every game was a tough one and we have had to work hard for our wins,” said Shozi.  “What really has helped is being part of the Sundowns Academy.  We get to play against the first team every month and we learn a lot about confidence, self discipline, respect, technical play and striving to do your best in every game.  We have put all these lessons into practise this week. ”

As a striker Shozi is always looking for ways to improve his game and different scoring tactics.  “Having someone of Mabhuti’s calibre as a mentor has helped give me the confidence to test out new tactics in games.  I am picking his brains now on how to get to, and stay, at the top of your game.  While I am doing well, I have been through three very difficult months being injured and not playing.  That is one of the most difficult positions to be in and you lose confidence and morale.  This tournament has helped me get back up there.”

His ultimate goal is to play for Mamelodi Sundowns first team.  If he maintains his performance throughout this tournament he believes the coach will get wind of his talents and perhaps his goal will be achieved sooner than expected.

The Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup is currently underway at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, Durban.  The 18 participating schools will complete the League today.  Thursday will see the play-offs and the third/fourth play-off will take place at 10am on Friday, followed by live performances by

Naima-K, Professor and Big Nuz.  The final will kick-off at 12pm.

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.

Academies have topped the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Final Groups

The final round robin games of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe took place at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, Durban today with Rosina Sedibane, Louis Botha Technical College, and Clapham College topping their group. The play-offs will commence tomorrow.  

For Gauteng’s Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School things are going according to plan.  “So far so good,” said coach, Tumelo Molabo, but he warns his team that more goals need to be scored if they wish to progress further. “The team I brought this year is young and inexperienced, but have been playing together for a few years now so know each other well.  I can see them getting more and more confident as the days progress.  We ended our League matches by beating Welebasha (KZN) 5 – 0. The boys have shown a determination to win and they are not scared of any team.” 

Rosina has not lost a game in the national finals to date and have scored 9 goals, conceding one goal against Executive Academy (EC).

The team Rosina is hoping to meet in the tournament is fellow provincial winners, Clapham, who have done exceptionally well this year.  “They beat us in the provincial final, but we are ready to redeem ourselves and they better watch out.  Last year we finished the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup in fourth position and we want to take first position this year,” said Molabo, who admits that the fact that most of the players belong to the SuperSport United Academy also helps.

Key Player for Rosina this year is Thabo Mile, who has scored 2 goals for the school.  The 19 year old Grade 11 pupil has just rejoined the team after suffering a foot injury .  “I thought that I would not be able to adjust after my injury,” said Mile, “but surprisingly I adjusted and am happy with my performance and it proves that I am on form again.”

Mile joined the SuperSport United Academy in 2009 and is grateful for the opportunity offered to him and the time the club and school has spent on him to improve his football as well as help him get a better grasp on life.  “It is amazing how life works.  My father wanted my brother to progress with his soccer career, but he decided he didn’t want to make soccer his life.  My father has since died and I am the one that is progressing in soccer. It is a pity he can’t see me now.”

Gauteng’s Clapham High School finished top of Group B winning all their matches with an impressive 18 goals conceding only one, against rivals, Harmony (Free State).

Newcomers, Louis Botha Technical High School from Bloemfontein, Free State finished top of Group C, winning their final round robin match against Ndamase (EC) 6 – 0, with Boipelo Segwaba scoring 4 goals.  The team managed to knock 12 goals into the net conceding only one.

Fixtures for the third day of play are still to be announced.

Results: East High 0 vs Louis Botha 1

                Goal:  Sizwe Duba

Okiep 1 vs Ndamase 0

                Goal:  Duncan V.D. Heever

Eric Nxumalo 3 vs Benny’s Sport Academy 2

                Goals:  EN:  Sydney Moyane, Adriot Mathebula, Silence Mashaba

                BC:  Alton Kapinga (2)

Mondale 1  vs  Cloetesville 1

                Goals:  Mon:  Dean Brandon (Kyle wheeler sent off for foul in penalty box)

                Cloet:  Curvin Williams

Welabasha 0  vs Sibongumusa1

                Goal:  Sihle Ndlovu

Executive Academy 1 vs Rosina Sedibane 1

                Goals:  EA: Zolani Malahla

                RS:  Skhumbuzo Mazibuko

Clapham 1 v Harmony 0

                Goal:  Khayelihle Shozi

Rietvale 0 v Freedom Park 1

                Goal: Bakang Monchwe

Sebetwane 0 v FK Tjiane 2

                Goals:  Dumisani Shongwe, Raymond Moroko

Benny’s Sport 1 v Okiep 0

                Goal:  Duncan VD Heever

Louis Botha 4 v Eric Nxumalo 0

                Goals:  Biopelo Segwaba, Aaron Mzethu, George Mlalele, Ernest Mabathoana

East High 6 v Ndamase 0

                Goals:  Muzi Thabotha (2), Siyabonga Sibiya (3), Bojosi Manjoe

Welabasha 0 v Rosina Sedibane 5

                Goals:  Lucky Gilbert, Zama Rambuwane, Thabo Mile, Sifiso Nkosi, Kwanele Zulu

Executive Academy 0 v Mondale 2

                Goals:  Dillan Fransch (2)

Cloetesville 2 v Sibongemusa 1

                Goals:  Cloet:  Regan Rhode, Wandile Yapi

                Sib: Sbonelo Sibiya

Rietvale 2 v FK Tjiane 1

                Goals:  Riet:  Horatio Mokwane, Maxwell Maarman

                Tj:  Obrey Mokwana

Sebetwane 0  v Clapham 1

                Goal:  Percy Tau

Harmony 1 v Freedom Park 0

                Goal:  Reginald Tsoela

Louis Botha 6 v Ndamase 0

                Goals:  Boipelo Segwaba (4), Ernest Mabathoana, Phatsimo Litseho

East High 3  v Benny’s Sport1

                Goals:  EH:  Siyabonga Sibiya (2), Thembumenzi Ngomane,

                BS:  Eethe Khaukanani

Okiep 3 v Eric Nxumalo 2

                Goals:  OK: Gian De Jongh, Duncan VD Heever (2)

                EN:  Fumani Mathebula, Sydney Moyane

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.

Clapham, assisted by Sundowns and the Sono Family, make waves at the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National finals

The school that has made the biggest impression on the first day of the U-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools cup, happening at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, Durban, is Clapham College from Pretoria.  The school, that educates the youngsters from the Mamelodi Sundowns Football Academy, won their first game against FK Tijiane from Limpopo 9 – 1, then 6 - 0 against Rietvale from the Northern Cape ending the day with a 1 – 0 win against Freedom Park to top Group B.

Besides the support of Mamelodi Sundowns, the team is coached by Rhulani Mokwena,  an ex professional footballer who played for his uncle, Jomo Sono.   “My father, Julia KK Sono, was a renowned footballer for Orlando Pirates and Jomo Cosmos and between him and Jomo they have played a major role in the way I approach the game,  which I am now passing on to these youngsters.”

He admits that the success on the first day does not mean they have won the tournament.  “I am pleased with the team’s performance, but we need to improve in every game and in this way we will continue to get results. There was no easy game today and by the third game we were tired.  The boys will rest and go back into action tomorrow, playing every game as a final.”

On the same points as Clapham in Group B is Harmony from Virginia in the Free State.  Clapham topped the group on goal difference, 16 as opposed to 12.

Cloetesville from the Western Cape were leading Group A but lost to Rosina Sedibane from Gauteng to place them second. 

Group C sees East High from Mpumalanga ahead with Benny’s Sports Academy in second place, despite their 9 – 0 win over Ndamase from the Eastern Cape.

The final league games will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, with the final play-offs on Thursday culminating with the third/fourth play-off at 10am on Friday followed by performances by Naima Kay, Professor and Big Nuz and then the final game.

RESULTS:  DAY 1 (24 September 2013)

1.            Welabasha 0   vs  Cloetesville 1

                Goal:  Regan Rhode

2.            Sibongumusa 0 vs Executive Academy 1

                Goal:  Sive Klaushe

3.            Rosina Sedibane   1 v Mondale 0

                Goal:  Thabo Mile

4.            Rietvale  0 vs Harmony 3

                Goals:  Tsheo Mogorosi (2), Reginald Tsoela

5.            Freedom Park 0 vs Sebetwane 0

6.            FK Tijiane 1 vs Clapham 9

                Goal:  FK:  Dumisane Shongwe (captain)

7.            Louis Botha 2 vs   Okiep 0

                Goals:  Charlie Hlalele (2)

8.            Eric Nxumalo 1 vs East High 2

                Goals:  EN:  Fumani Mathabela

                EH: Siyabonga Sibiya, Muzi Thabatha

9.            Ndamase 0  vs Benny’s Care 9

Goals:  Matuka Kabota (2), Khuliso Mudau, Eethe Khaukanani (3), Lfentswe Mungadziwa, Alton Lesedi, own goal

10.          Mondale 2 vs Welabasha 1

                Goals:  M: Gavin Saayman, Dillan Fransch

                W: Siyabonga Mkhize

11.          Rosina Sedibane   1 vs  Sibongumusa 0

                Goal:  Motsiri Moshoma

12.          Cloetesville 4 vs Executive Academy 1

                Goals:  CL:  Antonio Lewis (2), Curvin  Williams, Jason Clayton (captain)

                EA: Zolani <Malahla

13.          Clapham 6 vs Rietvale 0

                Goals:  Percy Tau (2), Khayelihle Shozi (3), Motoro Monyai

14.          FK Tijiane 0 vs  Freedom park 0

15.          Harmony 3 vs Sebetwane 0

                Goals:  Mpho Moepetsane, Abram Morake, Tshepiso Lobelo

16.          Benny’s Care 1 vs  Louis Botha 1

                Goals:  LB: Freddie Hlalele

                BC:  Khuliso Mudau

17.          Ndamase 0 vs Eric Nxumalo 1

                Goal:  Fumani Mathebula

18.          Okiep 0 vs East High 3

                Goals: EH:  Muzi Thabotha, Moffat Nkuna, Thembumenzi Ngomane

19.          Welabasha 0 vs  Executive Academy 1

                Goal:  Siphiwe Giften

20.          Cloetesville 0 vs Rosina Sedibane 1

                Goals:  Sifiso Nkosi

21.          Mondale 2 vs Sibongumusa 0

                Goals:  Adrian Jaftha, Ricardo Vorster

22.          Rietvale  1 vs Sebetwane 1

                Goals:  Riet:  Angelo Van Rooi

                Seb: Itumeleng Mosikare

23.          Harmony 6 vs FK Tijiane 0

                Goals:  Tiisetso Noosi, Molelekoa Motaung (2), Reginald Tsoela, Buti Mokele, Mpho Mosoang

24.          Freedom Park 0 vs Clapham 1

                Own goal

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.

Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Finals will see a school walk away with R1 million

The national finals of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup take place at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, Durban from 24 to 27 September. The 18 provincial champions and runners-up will be vying for some serious prize money: the winning school will be granted R1 million to fund much needed sporting and educational projects, the silver medallists get R600 000, third-placed school gets R500 000 and fourth place gets R400 000. The nine provincial champions have already won R100 000 each for their schools.

The games will start at 8am every day, Tuesday to Thursday, while on the final day there will be only 2 games: the 3rd/4th play-off and the final, followed by the prize presentations at approximately 2pm.  There will be music included on the final day with Biz Nuz, Mayma Kay and Professor entertaining the crowd before, during half time and immediately after the final game, so soccer fans should come in numbers to future Bafana Bafana players in action.

The teams started their gruelling qualifiers in March and it is now down to the last stretch, and with it will be the scouts and agents that come to sign up the top Under-19 talent in the country.  “This is what the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup is all about,” said Frank Louw, Sanlam Sponsorship Manager.  “We at Sanlam understand the value of development and the opportunity it gives youngsters to achieve what they hope for. We believe that the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup creates opportunities that have a positive impact on the youth, and provides exposure to scouts to source talented players to nurture and turn into professionals that will be future heroes and role models.  We are proud to be part of the process.”

There will be a new champion this year as title-holders, Gauteng’s School of Excellence, were knocked out at the provincial final.

Again this year the finals will see a blend academy players vs the rest.  Free State’s Harmony High School, the most successful school in the history of the competition, will be there again, but they were beaten in their provincial finals by Bloemfontein’s Louis Botha Technikon High School, who are in great form and must be pre-tournament favourites.

Gauteng’s hopes rest with Pretoria’s Rosina Sedibane and Clapham High School, who have the players from the Mamelodi Sundowns Youth Academy in their ranks. Others to watch out for are Limpopo’s Benny’s Care Academy and East High of Mpumalanga.

Then there the schools who have advanced to the national finals for the first time this year. They include Sebetswane Secondary from North West, and that province’s runners-up Freedom Park Secondary School. Limpopo will be sending a new school in their runners-up, FK Tijiane High Schools, while the winners and runners-up from both the Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal will be making first appearances. They are Eastern Cape’s Executive Academy and Ndamase Senior Secondary as well as KZN’s Welabasha and Sibongumusa High Schools.

The full list of participating schools is:

MPUMALANGA

WINNER: EAST HIGH ACADEMY

RUNNER UP: ERIC NXUMALO HIGH SCHOOL

NORTHERN CAPE

WINNER: RIETVALE HIGH SCHOOL

RUNNER UP: OKIEP HIGH SCHOOL

NORTH WEST

WINNER: SEBETWANE SEC SCHOOL

RUNNER UP: FREEDOM PARK SEC SCHOOL

LIMPOPO

WINNER: BENNY'S SPORTS ACADEMY

RUNNER UP: SK TIJIANE HIGH SCHOOL

GAUTENG

WINNER: CLAPHAM HIGH SCHOOL

RUNNER UP: ROSINA SEDIBANE MODIBA SPORTS SCHOOL

EASTERN CAPE

WINNER: EXECUTIVE ACADEMY SCHOOL

RUNNER UP: NDAMASE SENIOR SECONDARY SCHOOL

KZN

WINNER: WELABASHA HIGH SCHOOL

RUNNER UP: SIBONGUMUSA HIGH SCHOOL

FREE STATE

WINNER:THS LOUIS BOTHA

RUNNER UP :HARMONY HIGH SCHOOL

WESTERN CAPE

WINNER:MONDALE HIGH SCHOOL

RUNNER UP :CLOETESVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

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.

Executive Academy Wins The Eastern Cape Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup

Executive Academy of Idutywa won the Eastern Cape provincial title in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, at the Dumpsey Adams Stadium in Queenstown on 24th August after beating Ndamase Senior Secondary School 1 – 0.  Both schools will compete in the National Finals taking place at the King Zwelethini Stadium, KwaZulu-Natal from 24 – 27 September. 

As provincial champions, the school receives R100 000 to go towards supporting an educational or sport legacy project. According to the coach, Nkosinathi Madiyibhi, the school's governing body is still going to discuss how the money will be spent, but would like to see the funds used to upgrade the science lab - their Life Science laboratory is not well equipped - and they also need a computer lab. "Some soccer kit would also be welcome," he said.

Madiyibhi explains that the Executive Academy is a private school that focuses on education.  “We offer top academic students in the district the opportunity to get the best education possible to be able to become future role models and leaders in boardrooms.”

This is their second time in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, having been knocked out in the district stages last year.

Madiyibhi's background is as a referee. He became an official SAFA referee last year, but has been officiating since 2006. When he is not coaching at the school he is a referee for local games in Idutywa.

Ahead of the national finals, Madiyibhi believes their strikers need to sharpen up "They didn’t take enough advantage of the midfielders passing them the ball to set up the goals. The coach identifies Grade 11 striker Yandisa Zaba as a key player for the team."He is good at distributing the ball to his fellow players and always initiates short passes on the field," he said.

Yandisa began playing soccer at 7 years old for United FC in Port Elizabeth. His parents sent him to the Academy as they offer the best grounding in accounts as the player wants to study Accountancy at Wits University when he leaves school.   “While I would love to get scouted by a club like Mamelodi Sundowns, my parents are both academics and want me to get a degree after school and are encouraging me in that direction.”  His mother works for the Department of Agriculture in Umtata and his father teaches at an Adult Based Education and Training centre in Butterworth so education is their focus.  Zaba lives with his coach who persuaded him to join the school soccer team. 

His message to his team is that they shouldn’t lose their team spirit or be intimidated by other teams at the national finals.

Results:

GROUP A                                             GROUP B

Malcomess SSS                                 Ncedo SSS

Executive Academy                        Ndamase SSS

Khanya Naledi SSS                           Kuyasa Combined School

Phakamani SSS

Malcomess (1)                  VS           Executive Academy (0)

Khanya Naledi (1)            VS           Phakamani  (0)

Malcomess (0)                  VS           Khanya Naledi  (1)

Exec Academy (6)            VS           Phakamani  (0)

Malcomess (3)                  VS           Phakamani (0)

Khanya Naledi  (0)           VS           Exec Academy (2)

Ncedo (1)                            VS           Ndamase  (3)

Ncedo   (2)                          VS           Kuyasa  (1)

Ndamase (1)                      VS           Kuyasa (1)

Ncedo (2)                            VS           Malcomess (0)

FINAL

Ndamase (0)                      VS           Executive Academy (1)

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.