Wednesday, February 11, 2015

The call is out for primary schools to register for the 2015 Danone Nations Cup tournament



Primary schools across the country are invited to become part of the biggest football tournament for kids between 10 and 12 years old in the world by entering the 2015 Danone Nations Cup.

32 countries have started the gruelling qualifiers to identifying their team that will compete in the World Finals in Morocco later this year and South Africa is no different.  Registration has opened and all primary schools have until the 27th February to do so.

The competition is run under the auspices of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) and the Department of Basic Education. Games will begin at cluster level immediately after registration closes.  The winners will progress to Regional finals culminating in the nine provincial winners playing in the National finals to determine the national champion school.

“Through the Danone Nations Cup we are reaching kids at a crucial age,” said Chantel Ehlers, communications specialist, Danone.  “We are passionate about making a difference to people’s lives and our mission is ‘Bringing health through food to as many people as possible,’ which we are achieving through this tournament.  We are also encouraging kids to believe in their dreams.”

Both the 2014 winners (Siphumelele Primary School from Inanda, KZN) and runners-up (Farrarmere Primary School from Boksburg, Gauteng) will be back in action again this year.

For Siphumelele there are only four positions that need to be filled as the rest of the 2014 winning team will be back in action again this year.  According to team manager, Emmanuel Mkhize, the trip to Brazil last year has had an immeasurable impact on the lives of all the players that went, which will help the team this year.    

“The trip to Brazil to compete in the world finals has opened the eyes of every player.  They know that there are endless opportunities awaiting them and I can see that their confidence and fighting spirit has improved dramatically.  All this helps in their approach to the game this year,” said Mkhize. “They have learnt that you can achieve anything if you put your mind and energy to it and remain focused.”

The specialist coach that took the team to Brazil last year has left and the school coach, Mr Ndwandwe, will take charge. “The kids know him well and are used to his coaching style so it will not make a difference,” Mkhize concluded.

Tebogo Ngakane, manager of the Farrarmere team, is also confident his school can win the tournament this year.  He admits that being part of the Danone Nations Cup last year was an incredible and great learning experience for the kids.

“We were proud of the team to have reached the national finals the first time – and coming second was the cherry on the cake. But that was last year and we have an excellent team again that I know can do the job,” he said. “We have also brought in a new coach, Pride Moeketsi Morosi, who has a UEFA B license, and a load of experience to go with it, to help us.”

Unlike Siphumelele, Ngakane said that the entire 2014 team has progressed to High school so it will be a new team competing this year.  “The under 10 team will be competing this year and although we still have to hold trials to finalise the Danone Nations Cup team, what I can say is that they have all played together for a number of years, which is a help.”

To enter your school in the 2015 Danone Nations Cup contact Themba Tshabalala at SASFA: themba.tshabalala@safa.net or on 084 290 0602.  You can also download the registration form on facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/DNCSouthAfrica


Ends

About Danone
Danone Southern Africa is part of the Danone Group, one of the fastest-growing food companies in the world.  Danone is present in over 120 countries across all continents. With 160 plants and around 100,000 employees, the Danone Group is the number one worldwide for Fresh Dairy Products. Danone’s mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible.

One of the core values of the Danone Nations Cup tournament is to encourage young people to believe in their dreams. Through this initiative Danone offers a sporting event that reaches out to and inspires millions of children all over the world

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