Nelson Mandela Primary moves a step closer to the Danone Nations Cup World Finals

Sasolburg’s Nelson Mandela Primary School is the 2015 Danone Nations Cup Free State champions!  They beat Toka Primary from Moteo District, Bloemfontein, 6 – 5 on penalties after neither team managed to score during regulation time at the Clive Solomon Stadium, Mangaung on the weekend. 

So, they will be going to Reiger Park in Gauteng on the 27^th June to play in the National Finals. It’s not the first time that the school will be there - in 2014, when the school was called Credo Primary they were also the Free State champions. The school’s name was changed to Nelson Mandela Primary in October last year.

The team’s coach is Mrs Dikeledi Sothwane – a woman who has guided her team to two provincial wins in a row in the competition. She says words cannot express how she feels about the win. “We came into the tournament believing that we will retain the title and did exactly that,” she said.

The team lost their first two games at the provincial finals, but Sothwane said they didn’t let that deter them. They reviewed those games, strengthened their defence, and came through.

Mofulatshepe Primary School, the Free Sate provincial champions from 2009 to 2011, were the team to beat and Sothwane told her team that they were the current champs and that Mofulatshepe last tasted victory a long time ago so they have nothing to be scared of.

“We ended up beating them 1-0, and even though it wasn’t easy, I knew that if we beat that school, we can beat anyone,” Said Sothwane.

The school is fielding a fairly new team this year as there are only 4 players back from last year.

Sothwane, an Orlando Pirates supporter and one day is hoping to be an assistant coach of the national women’s team, has been coaching all the school teams for the past five years.  “The school didn’t have a soccer coach so I volunteered and have been there ever since.  I coach the u-9, u-12, u-13, u-14 and the girls soccer team as well,” said Sothwane, who gains all her knowledge from reading books, attending coaching clinics and watching as many games as possible on television.

Sothwane believes that playing sport is crucial in a child’s development.   “I have noticed that kids that play sport are more confident and can express themselves better in class.”

She has a strong bond with her players and that is the secret of their success. “The players see me as a mother figure and I think that has worked well for us, I listen to their suggestions, they are comfortable with me as I am with them, and that has been working very well for the team.”

Results

Thoriso Primary 0 (0) vs. Toka Primary 0 (2)

Matswathaka Primary 0 (2) vs. Mofulatshepe Primary 0 (3)

Nelson Mandela Primary 1 vs. Inoseng Primary 0

Thoriso Primary 0 (3) vs. Matswathaka Primary 0 (2)

Toka Primary 1 vs. Mofulatshepe Primary 0

Nelson Mandela Primary 0 vs. Thoriso Primary 1

Inoseng Primary 0 (2) vs. Matswathaka Primary 0 (1)

Toka Primary 2 vs. Nelson Mandela Primary 0

Mofulatshepe Primary 1 vs. Thoriso Primary 0

Inoseng Primary 0 vs. Toka Primary 3

Matswathaka Primary 0 vs. Nelson Mandela Primary 2

Inoseng Primary 0 vs. Mofulatshepe Primary 2

Toka Primary 0 (3) vs. Matswathaka Primary 0 (4)

Thoriso Primary 1 vs. Inoseng Primary 0

Mofulatshepe Primary 0 vs. Nelson Mandela Primary 1

Final

Toka Primary 0 (5) vs. Nelson Mandela Primary 0 (6)