Harmony High School gets through to the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup

Harmony High School, the most successful school in the history of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup are safely through to the Free State provincial finals of the competition and will be competing for the title, and the R100 000 in funding for legacy projects, and the right to play in the national finals that goes with it.

The Virginia school will meet the five other district winners in the playoffs, at Grey College in Bloemfontein on Saturday 23^rd August.

Harmony has religiously competed in the tournament since its inception and Hector Mokhali, the manager of the 2014 team, says the success of the soccer team is something the school and the community is proud of and they want to continue that tradition.

“Last year the team took a knock and we didn’t take first position in the provincials, but this year we are going to change that,” he said. “We are ready to compete and meet up again with HTS Louis Botha who beat us last year. We want to take back what rightfully belongs to us, which is the provincial title.”

Mokhali explained that their 2013 team was made up of under-17 players that participated in the tournament for the first time, so they were inexperienced. “We have that same team from last year, they are more qualified to compete and have learnt from their past mistakes,” he said.

Mokhali gives the credit for the schools consistence in the competition to the coach, Pitso Mokoena. “He has been a great asset to the school and the soccer department,” he said. “His expertise has made a huge difference. He is a great influence on the players and they all look up to him.”

The biggest improvement in the team this year has been in their finishing. “Our strikers are now more alert and they use every chance that they get to score goals,” Mokhali said. “When we played against Marematlou high school in a zone game we beat them 11-0, showing that the team is now more aware of the field and how to use it to their advantage.”

The defence is also a lot tighter this year, shown by the fact that in the 11 games they have played to date, they have only conceded one goal. “We just need to keep cool and continue with this momentum and there is no doubt that we are going to win the provincials and do well at the nationals,” Mokhali said.

As far as individual players are concerned, Mokhali is very impressed with 17 year-old midfielder Tebogo Mokoena. “He came up from our under 16 division.  This is his first Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup experience, but I know he will be a force to be reckoned with.  Last year he was the under 16 top goalscorer.”

This year, Teboga has already scored 10 goals and Mokhali is confident that that number will grow. “He is a very talented boy.  We had a scout from UK club Bolton Wanders here last year and they have invited him to attend trials at the club in October this year.”

The teams participating in the Free State provincial finals are:

·         Harmony High School-Lejweleputswa District

·         Relebohile Sibulele Secondary School-Xhariep District

·         Tlokola Secondary School-Thabo Mofutsanyane District

·         Mestimaphodi Secondary School  –Motheo District

·         RT Mokgopa High School -Motheo District

·         Thabang Secondary School -Fezile Dabi District