Sizwakele Secondary School finally taste success in the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup

After years of trying, Secunda’s Sizwakele Secondary School has finally made it to the under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup national finals.  They won the Mpumalanga provincial title in Middelburg last weekend, and will be travelling, along with the top two sides of all nine provinces, to Soweto next week to compete for the national title, and the R1 million prize that goes with it.

There were four schools that competed for the title and Sizwakele topped the log with Hoerskool Kriel finishing in second spot.  Current champions, St Marks School finished in third place and Thepanang Chiloane High School in fourth place.

“We have tasted success at last after so many attempts,” said Sizwakele team manager, David Nzima.  “This has been achieved through patience and hard work.  This was a great team effort and I want to commend all my players.  From the circuit level they have been dedicated to winning this tournament.”

Nzima admits that the team was a bit intimidated when then they arrived at the stadium for the Mpumalanga finals, but a quick team talk to remind them that they fought very hard to get to this level got them focused again.

“We came in eyeing the prize and we told the boys to play like they were winners already and that’s what they did,” he said. “Everything went smoothly and we truly enjoyed being a part of the Kay Motsepe School Cup soccer tournament.”

St Mark’s and Hoërskool Kriel were their most challenging opponents, but Nzima says the players put in a great effort and came through.

Although the team did a very good job overall, he singles out 3 key players who he describes as their “soldiers” this season.

“We have an exceptional goal keeper in Mfanafuthi Malinga who was impressive on Saturday,” Nzima said. “Our strikers were also outstanding. Tshepo Rikhotso and Thabang Ndlovu work well together.  When I have them both on the field I know that they will make magic and that’s what they did on Saturday.  I expect these 3 to make waves at the national finals.”

Nzima tackled preparations for the provincials as if they were the nationals.  “We have just a week before the nationals and the technical staff will now focus on the players’ psychological mindset. They have the skills and can play good football but we will be facing the top schools in the country with players that are attached to academies now and the players need to be mentally prepared and believe in themselves.”

Results

Kriel 2 vs Thepanang 1

St Marks 0 vs Sizwakele 2

Kriel 1 vs Sizwakele 2

Thepanang 0 vs St Marks 3

Kriel 1 vs St Marks 0

Thepanang 0 vs Sizwakele 0