Free State beat Northerns on day 3 of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week

The Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week goes into its fourth day on Thursday with only eight results being produced in the 32 matches that should have been played by now.

Every day so far has been disrupted by the weather, but Wednesday was the worst of all. The eight morning T20 matches all got going, but they were all called off because of rain, with only one 1^st innings being completed.

In the afternoon session, seven of the eight games were abandoned without a ball being bowled. The eighth – between Free State and Northerns did start, and it was completed, with Free State chasing down a smallish, 107-run total for the loss of seven wickets.

The fixtures for Thursday have been announced and they see the customary big guns meeting each other. Gauteng play Eastern Province and KwaZulu-Natal meet Western Province, with the winners of those games likely to come up against each other in Friday’s prestigious final game of the week.

Tomorrow’s Fixtures

Western Province v KwaZulu-Natal, Gauteng v Eastern Province, Border v Easterns, Northerns v Boland, Namibia v Free State, SWD v North West, Griquas v Limpopo, Mpumalanga v KwaZulu-Natal Inland

Results

Morning Games

Free State v Boland - Free State 25/4 (Botha 3/8) game abandoned.

Limpopo v Border- Limpopo 27/2 (Sigwili 2/9) game abandoned.

Mpumalanga v Eastern Province - Mpumalanga 122/6 in 20 overs (Griesel 39 not out, Carlisle 23; Manjezi 3/9) game abandoned.

Easterns v Northerns - Easterns 122/7 in 20 overs (Germishuizen 67, Rasemene 2/6) game abandoned.

KZN Inland v Griqualand West - KZN Inland 51/0 (Mahmoud 27 not out, van Wymeersch 16 not out) game abandoned.

KZN Coastal v SWD - KZN Coastal 74/6 (Naidoo 22 not out, Phehlukwayo 21 not out; Oberholzer 3/3) game abandoned.

Western Province v North West - Western Province 26/0 (Fortuin 16 not out) game abandoned.

Gauteng v Namibia - Namibia 29/2 (Kruger 23 not out) game abandoned.

Afternoon Games

Northerns vs Free State - Northerns 108/6 (Bruwer 17, Rossouw 23, KLopper 30; Loubser 2/20). Free State 109/7 (Steyn 44, Loubser 31; Bruwer 2/16). Free State won by 3 wickets

Nanti Hayward talks about his first Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week at Kearsney College in 1994

The last time the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week was held at Kearsney College, in 1994, there was a scrawny red-headed fast bowler in the Eastern Province side who got the people talking with his raw pace and aggression.

His name was Mornanteu (Nanti) Hayward and, despite taking a heap of wickets, including a hat-trick in one of the games, he never made the SA Schools side that year. He had to wait one year for that honour – 1995 in East London – where he was the top wicket-taker at the week, and his opening partner in that SA School team was none other than Makhaya Ntini, and the wicket keeper was Mark Boucher. Also in the team was Boeta Dippenaar.

Hayward is back at Kearsney this week in his role as a specialist bowling coach who has several of his protégés in the EP schools team.

“I went into coaching to pass on the knowledge of my experience,” he says. “I especially want to help young players to make different choices to the ones I occasionally made and which did not do me much good.”

Among his charges in the EP side is young Bradley Bopp who he describes as very promising. “He works hard and is focused, he says. He is very fit and never holds back. He clearly wants to be professional cricketer one day and I see it as my role to give him the tools and skills to make that possible.”

Hayward believes the modern school players have more opportunities. “The coaching is far better, than in my day. I found, for example, that I was holding the ball all wrong only when I started playing 1^st class cricket for EP.”

He has fond memories of the Coke weeks that he played in. “In 1994, I remember that we tied with a very strong Gauteng team and I will always remember the hat trick that I took against Northerns that year.”

He believes the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week is a great cricketing institution.

“The partnership between Coca-Cola and Cricket South Africa has been going on for so many years and it has provided a showcase for talented players to show what they are worth,” he says. “In my case, I was all raw talent, with very little technique, but I was able to take wickets at the week, which was noticed and I was taken into the EP setup where, with lots of help, I progressed to play for South Africa five years later.

“These days the franchises are all here and the top players have already been identified. This week makes a massive contribution to that.”

Morning T20 Scores

Free State vs Boland

Free State 25/4 (Botha 3/8) game abandoned

Limpopo vs Border

Limpopo 27/2 (Sigwili 2/9) game abandoned

Mpumalanga vs Eastern Province

Mpumalanga 122/6 in 20 overs (Griesel 39*Carlisle 23, Manjezi 3/9) game abandoned

Easterns vs Northerns

Easterns 122/7 in 20 overs (Germishuizen 67, Rasemene 2/6) game abandoned

KZN Inland vs Griqualand West

KZN Inland 51/0 (Mahmoud 27*, van Wymeersch  16*) game abandoned

KZN Coastal vs SWD

KZN Coastal  74/6 (Naidoo 22*, Phehlukwayo 21*, Oberholzer 3/3) game abandoned

Western province vs North West

Western Province 26/0 (Fortuin 16*) game abandoned

Gauteng vs Namibia

Namibia 29/2 (Kruger 23*) game abandoned

17 year old Daniel Griesel scores the first hundred in the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week and is the leading run scorer

Rain affected play again on the third day of the under-19 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket week currently underway in Durban, with all T-20 morning games having to be called. But some games did start and a player from Mpumalanga, Daniel Griesel, who is making waves with his consistent fine form this year, managed to notch up 39 runs not out, off 36 balls before rain stopped play in their game against Eastern Province. 

The Mpumalanga wicketkeeper/batsman contributes his success to his philosophy of the game which is that cricket is a simple game and it doesn’t pay to make it complicated.

“When the ball is there, hit it, is my philosophy,” he says. The upshot was 109 runs off 104 balls with 10 fours and four sixes against Griquas on Tuesday, to go with his 48 off 25 balls, with 10 fours against SWD on day one.  Daniel is the leading run scorer of the tournament so far.

Daniel just finished grade 11 and this is his first Coca-Cola Khaya Majola cricket week. He is big and muscular looking more like a rugby player than a cricketer, but his passion is in cricket and doesn’t play rugby anymore.

In last year’s national under-17 tournament he notched up scores of 109 and 33 not out against Limpopo and 50 against Western Province.

He says he is enjoying the tournament and likes the fact that he is the leading run scorer so far but he does not have any expectations. He would like to make the SA Schools team and go to the under-19 World Cup next year in Dubai but that’s just a dream for the moment and not something that he expects to do.

“Mpumalanga is a small province so we are not expected to do well,” he says. “I hope my team can beat one of the stronger teams in the week to show that we can be dangerous and should be taken seriously.”

Daniel played rugby as an outside centre, and started cricket as a bowling all rounder. When he was under-14 he chipped a bone in his hip and tore the ligaments in his knee. That meant the end of his rugby career and he also found that bowling hurt his knee and hip, so had to stop. He concentrated on batting from then onwards and has managed to specialize in the discipline.

He found he cannot keep still in the field, so he took up wicket keeping and has become quite good at that too.

Daniel comes from a proud and successful sporting family.  His mother, Sunett Griesel, played action cricket for South Africa. She was in the team that went to the World Cup in New Zealand. His father Bertus Griesel played action cricket for Mpumalanga and his brother played in the Mpumalanga Coca-Cola Craven Week rugby team in 2011. He captained the team as a flank.

Morning T20 Scores

Free State vs Boland

Free State 25/4 (Botha 3/8) game abandoned

Limpopo vs Border

Limpopo 27/2 (Sigwili 2/9) game abandoned

Mpumalanga vs Eastern Province

Mpumalanga 122/6 in 20 overs (Griesel 39*Carlisle 23, Manjezi 3/9) game abandoned

Easterns vs Northerns

Easterns 122/7 in 20 overs (Germishuizen 67, Rasemene 2/6) game abandoned

KZN Inland vs Griqualand West

KZN Inland 51/0 (Mahmoud 27*, van Wymeersch  16*) game abandoned

KZN Coastal vs SWD

KZN Coastal  74/6 (Naidoo 22*, Phehlukwayo 21*, Oberholzer 3/3) game abandoned

Western province vs North West

Western Province 26/0 (Fortuin 16*) game abandoned

Gauteng vs Namibia

Namibia 29/2 (Kruger 23*) game abandoned

Rain interrupts an exciting day’s play at the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola cricket week

The highlight of day two of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week was a quick fire century by HTS Middelburg’s Daniel Griesel, who made 109, of 117 balls with 10 4s and four 6s for Mpumalanga against Griquas.

His batting feat helped his side to a 1st innings total off 207, which was enough to ensure victory for them, after Griquas were bowled out for 155.

Day two was once again disrupted by rain, with two games called off at lunchtime, and most of the others abandoned in the final hour of play as rain descended on Durban.

The upshot was that only two other teams – Eastern Province and Namibia managed wins – both on 1^st innings on a day when times cricket was the format.

The day definitely belonged to the batsmen. Apart from Griesel’s ton, there were six half centuries scored. They were by: EP’s Andrew Rushmere (71 v KwaZulu-Natal Inland); Merwe Erasmus (71 for Namibia v SWD); Gareth Wissing (70 for KwaZulu-Natal v Gauteng); Ryan Wallace (71 for KwaZulu-Natal v Gauteng); Gideon Bruwer (55 for Griquas v Mpumalanga) and Revaldo Moonsamy (56 for Northerns v Western Province).

One bowler managed to get a five wicket haul - Wehan Joubert of Mpumalanga got 5/50 against Griquas. Border’s Ngazibini Sigwile took 4/28 against Boland; Analisa Mteto took 4/39 for Eastern Province against KZN inland and Johannes Smit took 4/35 for Namibia against SWD.

Only one team – Namibia has won both its games so far. Gauteng and Eastern Province have managed one win and one draw apiece, while the other big guns – Western Province and KwaZulu-Natal; have had two rained out draws apiece.

The format of the week now changes to limited overs. Wednesday features T20 cricket, with all the sides playing two matches. On Thursday and Friday they play 50 overs a side matches.

Video highlight packages of Day 2 of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week and audio clips can be found on the FTP site below

http://cricketsa.businesscatalyst.com

Scorecards

Boland 227 (Cilliers 20, Minaar 39, Botha 35, De Necker 44, Louw 35, Schoor 28; Sigwili 4/28, Hardnick 2/52). Border 84/7 (Neethling 24; S Botha 3/11, N Botha 2/19, Louw 2/10). Rain stopped play. Match drawn.

KwaZulu-Natal Inland 126 (Pyne-James 19, Stevens 42; Mteto 4/39, Stretton 3/19). Eastern Province 153/6 (Rushmere 71, Nqam 27; Stevens 3/41). Eastern Province won on 1^st innings.

Easterns 73/0 v Northwest (Ahamed 15, Germishuizen 45). Rain stopped play. Match drawn.

Free State 68/2 v Limpopo (Mangwena 25, Botha 22 not out). Rain stopped play. Match drawn.

KwaZulu-Natal 225/5d (Wissing 70, Wallace 72, Schlemmer 27; Glover 3/26). Gauteng 66/1 (Rickleton 25 not out, Roelofsen 22). Rain stopped play. Match drawn.

Mpumalanga 207 (Cornelius 30, Griesel 109; Williams 2/27, Bok 3/51, Bruwer 2/35). Griquas 155 (Bruwer 55, Bok 39 not out; Geldenhuys 3/12, Joubert 5/50). Mpumalanga 2^nd inns 36/0. Mpumalanga won on 1^st innings.

SWD 131 (C Marrow 34, T Marrow 30; Smit 4/35, Strauss 2/29, Wessels 2/21). Namibia 161/7 (Green 54, Erasmus 71; Maree 4/39, Roelfe 3/37). SWD second innings 6/1 Namibia won on 1^st innings.

Northerns 144 (Mahlokwana 30, Moonsamy 56, Bruwer 19; Stevens 3/13, Sader 3/21). Western Province 128/6 (Christensen 48, Van der Berg 30; Melton 3/27, Raseme 3/12). Rain stopped play. Match drawn.

Fixtures for Day 3

18 December 2013 :DAY 3 – 20/20 1st ROUND			VENUE
Gauteng	Vs	Nambia	Smith Oval (KC)/Northwood
KwaZulu Natal	Vs	SWD	Matterson Field (KC)C.Oval
KwaZulu Natal Inland	Vs	Griqualand West	Osler Field(KC)/Old Boys
Border	Vs	Limpopo	Hammond Field
Western Province	Vs	North West	Glenwood High
Eastern Province	Vs	Mpumalanga	Crusaders
Boland	Vs	Free State	Tills
Northerns	Vs	Easterns	Berea Rovers

18 December 2013 :DAY 3 – 20/20 2nd  ROUND			VENUE
Gauteng	Vs	Mpumalanga	Smith Oval (KC)/Northwood
KwaZulu Natal	Vs	Griqualand West	Matterson Field (KC)C.Oval
KwaZulu Natal Inland	Vs	SWD	Osler Field(KC)/Old Boys
Border	Vs	North West	Hammond Field
Western Province	Vs	Limpopo	Glenwood High
Eastern Province	Vs	Nambia	Crusaders
Boland	Vs	Easterns	Tills
Northerns	Vs	Free State	Berea Rovers

Morning.                                     Afternoon
1st Session: 09:00 - 10:20.          13:30 - 14:50
Interval: 10:20 - 10:40.               14:50 - 15:10
2nd Session: 10:40 - 12:00.         15:10 - 16:30

Lunch :12:00 -  13:00

Dave Alers has committed to the development of young cricketers at the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket week since 1989.

The Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week has always depended on passionate school teachers who have been prepared to give up the week before Christmas, year after year, to create the opportunity for the cream of our under-19 cricketing talent to show what they can do.

And you'll have to go a long way to find a cricket man more passionate, or one who has created more of those opportunities, than Dave Alers, deputy principal of East London's Hudson Park High School, and manager of the Border Schools team that is playing at this year's week in Durban.

This is Alers' 11th consecutive week as a team official, and his 20th in total. His first was in Johannesburg in 1989, when he was the assistant manager of the Border team and he has missed out on the odd occasion, but otherwise he has been pretty much a permanent fixture at the elite schools cricket festival ever since.

Alers was no mean cricketer himself. He played in four of these weeks - from 1972 to 1975, representing the then Rhodesia, making the SA Schools team in his final year. He then went on to play 1st class cricket for Rhodesia, Eastern Province and Border, as an opening bowler. He also played for the SA Universities team in 1977 and 1978.

After qualifying as a teacher at Rhodes University he was appointed as a teacher at East London's Cambridge High School in 1982, and started coaching the first cricket team there in 1985. He then moved to Hudson Park, where he also took the 1st team and, nearly 30 years on, he is still coaching.

He has seen a lot over the years and, for him, the biggest event has been the birth of the new South Africa. "In those early years this was the Nuffield Week - an all-white affair, with all that that implies. The unification of cricket led, in the Border region especially, to exposure for some amazing talents, and coaching them over the years has been a highlight for me," he said

Pressed to single out one special year, Alers said it would have to be 1994 - the last time the week was at Kearsney College. "It was a special year because it was the 1st unified week, and the Border team that year had in its ranks two players who were to become giants of South African cricket - Mark Boucher and Makhaya Ntini.

"I would hesitate to say that standards have dropped these days - they haven't - but we don't see players of their stature very often these days."

As far as changes down the years are concerned, he believes the biggest one has been a greater emphasis on winning these days. "In my early years we only played declaration cricket, with a two-day game day in some of the weeks. Draws were common in those days and it was more about performances than results," he said. "T20 cricket hadn't been invented and limited overs cricket was frowned on."

With the introduction of the new formats, results became possible and this changed the way players approach the game. "It's been a good thing and I think players have benefitted from having to apply different strategies."

Alers is excited by the prospects of SA u-19 bowler Ngazibini Sigwili, who is from his school and in the Border team this year. "He is the second SA Schools player Hudson Park has produced," he said. "In 2007 we had Cebo Tshiki, also fast bowler, in the team."

As for the future, Alers is hesitant to commit himself to another Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week next year. "My wife has been amazingly tolerant of me being away at his time of the year, every year," he said, "but she may run out of patience eventually.


"But she know this is what I really love to do, so who knows, maybe I'll make it 21 weeks next year."

Four teams win on day one of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Week

Gauteng and Western Province were among the winners on day one of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week in Durban on a day when rain cut play short and four of the eight games ended in draws.

Gauteng played KZN Inland and scuttled them for just 61, with Nicholas Scholtz taking 3/7 in four overs and Kagiso Rabada getting 3/14. Gauteng then declared on 172/9, once Marques Ackerman had reached his half century. KZN were on 17/1 when the match was called off, giving Gauteng a 1^st innings win on a day when timed cricket was played.

Western Province also declared their first innings, on 125/6, after they bowled their neighbours, Boland, out for 49. Their opening bowler Dayyaan Galiem took 4/13 to set them up for a 1^st innings win, with Boland on 14/3, when the rain came.

The other sides to notch up victories were Namibia – over Griquas, and Easterns, who beat Limpopo.

The top run-scorer on day one was Chris Marrow of SWD, who made 86 not out against Mpumalanga. Four other batsmen got half centuries. They were: Marques Ackerman; Michael Eckard (Northwest – 54 v Free State); Michael Stannard (Free State – 55 v Northwest) and Aubrey Ferriera (Border - 54 v Northerns).

Three bowlers took “fifers”. Sohail Mahmoud took 5/64 for KZN Inland against Gauteng; Lance Humphrey took 5/24 for Easterns against Limpopo and Timothy Niemand got 5/50 for Northerns against Border.

Western Province are up against Northerns today, and Gauteng meet the hosts, KwaZulu-Natal. All four sides are looking for a win to continue their progression to be in the running for a spot in the prestigious main game, come the end of the week on Friday.

Summarised scores

KwaZulu-Natal Inland 61 1^st inns (Rabada 3/14, Dudgeon 2/11, Broodryk 2/24, Scholtz 3/7). Gauteng 172/9 decl (Roelofsen 40, Valli 23 Ackerman 51 not out; Mahmoud 5/64, Elliot 2/17). KwaZulu-Natal Inland 2^nd inns 17/1. Rain stopped play. Gauteng won on 1^st innings.

Limpopo 76 1^st inns (Botha 16; Humphrey 5/24, Snyman 2/9). Easterns 1^st inns 119/8 decl (Germishuis 25, Van Rooyen 31, Snyman 28; Patel 3/20). Limpopo 2^nd inns 63/5 (Mangena 25 not out; Simelane 3/23). Easterns 2^nd inns 21/1. Easterns won outright.

Northwest 138 (Eckard 54, Weyers 33, Maritz 18; Van Wyk 3/26, Makhasana 2/17, Mokwena 3/26, Ntshona 2/33). Free State 120/6 (Stannard 55, Mogoera 28; Weyers 4/27). Rain stopped play. Match drawn.

Northerns 194 (Moonsamy 40, Du Plooy 43, Moanta 28, Klopper 24; Neimand 5/50, Elembi 2/28). Border 107/6 (Ferreira 54, Steyn 24; Spykstra 3/23). Rain stopped play. Match drawn.

Boland 1st inns 49 (Cilliers 25; Galiem 4/13, Stevens 3/2). Western Province 125/6 decl (Hamza 35). Boland 2^nd inns 14/3. Match drawn. Western Province won on 1st innings.

Mpumalanga 205 (Daya 26, Chandler 24, Griesel 48, Nepgen 36; Moolman 3/34, Roelfse 3/39). SWD 139/4 (C Marrow 86 not out, T Marrow 27 not out). Match drawn.

KwaZulu-Natal 157 (Oakes 41, Wallace 24, Smith 21; Bobb 4/34, Stretton 3/20). Eastern Province 153/5 (Mama 49, Carse 25 not out). Bad light stopped play. Match drawn.

Namibia 1^st inns 136 (Erasmus 32, Kruger 36; Brooker 4/21, Kruger 2/39, Van Zyl 2/25). Griquas 1st inns 63 (Bruwer 26; Smit 4/12, Snyman 2/28, Du Preez 2/9). Namibia 2^nd inns 73/2 decl. Griquas 2^nd inns 48/5. Namibia won outright.

The 2013 Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Cricket Weeks gets underway at Kearsney College

The Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week, got under way in and around Durban, today, with everyone fairly amazed that play was possible at all after several days of persistent rain, which was still coming down late last night.

The groundsmen and organisers performed their customary miracles, however, and just one change of venue was necessary and one game stated late.

Under the circumstances, it was no surprise that the opening session belonged to the bowlers. There was just one half century scored in the first innings – Northwest’s Michael Eckard got 54 against Free State.

Low totals and good bowling figures were the order of the day, with the pick of the bowlers Border. Easterns’ Lance Humphrey, who took 5/24 in his 10 overs against Limpopo. There was one other five wicket haul – Timothy Niemand took 5/50 against Border.

Western Province’s Dayyaan Galiem took 4/13 against Boland, while two Gauteng bowlers - Kagiso Rabada (3/14) and Nicholas Scholtz (3/7) – were impressive as their side bowled KwaZulu-Natal Inland out for 61.

The first two days of the Coca-Cola Khaya Majola Week features timed cricket matches, so the sides that went out cheaply will have a chance to bat again in the second innings, and the bowlers will have to show that they can produce the goods when the fields start drying out and the wickets begin to ease up.

Weather permitting, there will be four more days of action after this, followed by matches between the SA Schools and SA Colts sides against Dolphins team on Saturday.

Scores:

Boland vs Western Province

Boland 46 all out. (Cilliers 25*, Galiem 4/13, Stevens 3/2, Olivier 2/13)

Northerns vs Border

Northerns 194 all out (Moonsamy 40, du Plooy 43, Niemand 5/50)

Border 10/1

KZN Coastal vs Eastern Province

KZN 133/7 (Oakes 41, Stretton 3/20)

Limpopo vs Easterns

Limpopo 76 all out (Humphrey 5/24)

Easterns 44/1

North West Province vs Free State

NW 138 all out (54* Eckard, van Wyk 3/26, Mokgwera 3/26)

Free State 3/0

KZN Inland vs Gauteng

KZN Inland 61 all out (Rabada 3/14, Scholtz 3/7)

Gauteng 78/5 (Roelofsen 40)

Namibia vs Griquas

Namibia 135/9 (Erasmus 32, Kruger 36, Brooker 4/20)

COCA-COLA KHAYA MAJOLA CRICKET WEEK KICKS-OFF

The 2013 Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Cricket Week kicks off in Durban on 16^th December and for five days 200 of the top under-19 schoolboys cricketers from around the country will be in action and new heroes will be made. Teams representing Cricket South Africa’s 16 provincial unions will play in three formats of the game: timed cricket, 50 overs and T20.

The Under-19 Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Cricket Week is seen within cricket circles as a stepping stone for teenagers who want to play professional cricket and ultimately represent South Africa at an international level. Over 200 players who have come through the week have gone on to play for South Africa, including the three captains currently leading the Test, ODI and T20 teams: Graeme Smith, AB De Villiers and Faf Du Plessis.

Kearsney College in Botha’s Hill will be the central hub for the week, with matches played there, on surrounding fields and in the Durban area, including the Kingsmead Oval. At the end of the week a South African Schools and a South African Schools Colts team will be announced and they will play against Dolphins teams on 21^st December.

The fixtures for the first three days of play are announced beforehand, with the games for the remaining days being arranged on a strength vs strength basis afterwards.

There is no official overall winner at the Coca-Cola® Khaya Majola Cricket Week. The two teams that have played consistently the best throughout the week will meet on the main field on the final day and the winner of that game takes home the trophy.

“Our new campaign expression for all our youth properties, ‘Where Heroes are Made’, epitomizes Coca-Cola® South Africa’s message and our reason for sponsoring development,” explains Fetsi Mbele, IMC Marketing Assets Manager, Coca-Cola® South Africa.  “The success of any national team is directly linked to what happens at school level and we are proud to have played such a crucial part in helping the Proteas become the number 1 Test playing nation in  the world, and not far behind are the ODI and T20 versions of the game.  The future Proteas players will be in the making in Durban in December.”

THE JACOB ZUMA FOUNDATION IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE FOUNDATION TO STAGE THE MSHOLOZI CUP

HIS EXCELLENCY, THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, MR JG. ZUMA, SANLAM AND THE MOTSEPE FOUNDATION WILL ONCE AGAIN SPONSOR THE ANNUAL MSHOLOZI SOCCER TOURNAMENT

The fifth annual Msholozi Soccer Tournament takes place at Eshowe High School on 20^th and 21^st December 2013.  The tournament involves eight under-15 boys soccer teams from the uThungulu, uMkhanyakude, Zululand and host SAFA regions and is hosted by the Jacob G Zuma Foundation in partnership with Sanlam and the Motsepe Foundation.

Its founder and patron is President Jacob Zuma who initiated the event in line with his vision of using sport to achieve peace, social cohesion and youth development, especially in the rural areas of South Africa.

The idea behind the event it is to keep the youth in rural areas engaged in healthy activity while at the same time unearthing the great talent that is hidden in these areas. It is the Foundations’ intention to extend the participation in this tournament to the entire province and eventually the whole country.

“I am a firm believer in the role of sport in keeping youngsters disciplined,” said President Zuma, “Through this initiative we also hope to develop talent for possible national teams. Ultimately we would like to build sports academies in rural areas.”

Each of the SAFA regions will hold their own elimination process to source the two teams that will represent them in the Msholozi Cup. The teams will be divided into two groups of four teams each.  On the first day they will play a round robin format with the top two teams going on to play in the semi final the following day.

There are negotiations underway to have the Mamelodi Sundowns Legends play against opponents, still to be confirmed, as a curtain-raiser to the final game.

Patrons of JZ foundation as well as members of the Motsepe Foundation and Sanlam will be present on the second day, as well as representatives from government, SAFA and Mamelodi Sundowns management, technical team and players.

Talent identification scouts from the professional clubs will be invited on both days to run their eye over the available talent.

Mamelodi Sundowns president, Patrice Motsepe said he would like to see the concept of this tournament spread to other rural areas around the country. "There can never be too many soccer tournaments around the country.  We have a wealth of talent at youth level and these are our future soccer heroes.  It is important to get them as young as possible to nurture and build good habits so that we will one day be seen as one of the top soccer nations.”