Mondale High School from Mitchell’s Plain get their registraion forms in early for the 2014 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup

Registration for the 2014 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup has now closed and the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) will be sending all the schools that have registered their fixtures for the cluster games shortly.

Mondale High School from Mitchell’s Plain in the Western Cape have got their registration safely in.

They are the defending Western Cape provincial champions, and finished fifth overall in last year’s national finals of the competition.

Nigel Crowie, the team manager, says their preparations for the 2014 have only just begun as it was athletics season and most of the soccer players are also athletes. “The Athletics season ended at the end of March and I am currently holding trials,” he said. “One of the key attributes I am looking for in the players is their determined and focus as football is a mind game as well as a skills game.”

In accordance to the school rules, all players must have a 60% academic record before they can be part of the school team. “Academics are very important to the school,” said Crowie.

There are 6 players from last year back again and Crowie believes their experience at the national finals last year will have prepared them well and they know what to expect. “Reaching the national finals last year was a huge achievement for us and, as first timers, finishing in 5^th position out of 18 was good going. We hope to continue our winning streak this year, but we know it will not be easy,” he said.

“The quality of football improves every year, especially with academies setting the trend, and we need to keep abreast with this,” said Crowie.

As provincial winners last year, the school received R100 000 in legacy funding and Crowie said they plan to buy a mini bus. “We struggle with transportation when we have to travel for soccer and other school trips, so this will make a big difference.”

The team will be coached by Dale Raynard again this year. “We are not making any coaching changes as Dale has the experience and last year he was able to send the team to the national finals, We believe that he will be able do it again this year,” Crowie said.

Two recent ex-pupils of the school are playing for PSL teams. Dillan Fransch was part of the Ajax Academy and he has signed with the Ajax first team and Brandon Dean was part of Supersport Academy and has signed with Supersport United first team.

“I can’t take the all the credit for what they have achieved,” Crowie said. “The boys worked very hard to be where they are today. They played for the school as well as their respective academies, but it’s an honour knowing that I had a hand in shaping these boys’ futures no matter how small my contribution was.”

Crowie sees Cloesteville High School, the team they played against in last year’s provincial final, as their strongest local competition. “It was not an easy match.  Their defence was stronger than anticipated. If we were to meet up with them it’s going to be tougher than last year, they will want to deal with us,” he said.

Sanlam and the Motsepe Foundation are fantastic sponsors and Crowie says they appreciate what they are doing for the community. “When schools win the community also benefits and kids around the area are able to attend schools that have better facilities.  Their efforts are greatly appreciated.”