Soweto Rivals compete for the Danone Nations Cup Regional Title

 

When the Soweto regional playoffs in under-12 Danone Nations Cup get underway this year they are going to feature a mini Soweto derby that has something of the passion and intensity of the legendary Orlando Pirates vs Kaizer Chiefs clashes.

Ekuphemeleni Primary School of Jabulani, Soweto and Usindo Primary of Zondi Soweto, have a longstanding rivalry in netball, athletics and soccer and clashes between the two schools are always well attended and they generate a lot of interest.

Ekuphemeleni has had the upper hand recently – they beat Usindo in netball and athletics last year, and knocked them out of the Danone Nations Cup.

Usindo, however, has already won the athletics meeting this year, and are looking to turn the table in netball and soccer as well. The Danone Nations Cup gives them the opportunity to start that process.

Ekuphemeleni coach and manager, Jabu Ndlovu said it’s great to see the competitiveness among the players of the two schools. “They only meet once during the soccer season. And we will have to be prepared mentally and physically because this is one of the biggest tournaments, and an opportunity to travel to France for the world finals.”

Ekuphemeleni has been participating in the Danone Nations Cup since 2011 after watching the world finals that year at the Orlando Stadium.

Ndlovu chose his team in November last year and they have been training ever since. “It’s important to work with the class teachers at the school,” he said. “It’s important to know how the players are doing in the classroom as this will affect them on the soccer pitch.”

The team at Usindo Primary School is managed by twins: Lungelo Nala, the coach, and Mrs Nomalungelo Mooi, the team manager.

The school has been taking part in the tournament since 2014 but they have not managed to make it past district level. Like Ekuphemeleni, they have been in training since last year and are hoping to turn the tables on their Soweto rivals in the tournament. 

Nala is always amazed at how the players, who are shy and quiet in class, become transformed on the soccer field. “They start to express themselves, it’s as if we are dealing with different learners,” he said.

It’s the first time that Mooi and Nala are together with the team and they are looking forward to the challenge. The team is training three times a week at this stage.

Mooi said the build up to matches against Ekuphemeleni is always hectic because of the traditional rivalry. “The whole school becomes involved and comes to watch the games,” she said.

Nala believes tournaments like the Danone Nations Cup are important because they allow the kids to expose other talents.” Some learners aren’t academically gifted so their self-esteem goes down and they feel like they are not important. Sport is important because it can boost confidence and build personality,” he said.

“And the Danone Nations Cup is very important to some communities like ours where there is a high rate of crime and many drop out of school. Most of the learners don’t have much to look forward to once they get home, but they do have soccer to concentrate on now.”

 

Third time lucky for Northern Cape Danone Nations Cup Provincial Winner

 

Van Rensburg Primary of Britstown in the Northern Cape is the first school to book its place in the national finals of the under-12 Danone Nations Cup soccer tournament.

The team emerged victorious from the five regional champions that competed in the Northern Cape provincial finals tournament at the Paballelo Stadium in Upington last weekend.

They will be travelling to Reiger Park in Boksburg on June 25^th  to meet the other 8 provincial winners and play off for the national title and, with it, the opportunity to travel to France later in the year to compete in the Danone Nations Cup world finals.

It was a case of third time lucky for Van Rensburg, they were in the provincial finals in 2011 and again last year, but were knocked out both times. But, according to their coach, Jus Marolla, it was a case of “if at first you don’t succeed keep trying and just prepare better the next time.”

Marolla knows it won’t be easy at the next level, and that they are at a disadvantage because, coming from the Northern Cape they have limited competition at a higher level.

“We prepared well for the provincial finals and found our progress surprisingly easy,” said Marolla. “The boys were a bit nervous and I have seen them play better, but our strategy of all-out attack and total team defence worked well and my job now is to get their confidence up in preparation for the nationals.”

Marolla said the team is excited about travelling to Johannesburg. Most of them have never been there before so it’s going to be an adventure.

“They want to make friends and have fun while they are competing.  They know that it’s a competition, but they still want to have fun at the same time. Competing for a chance to travel to France is something that they will probably never get in their lifetime again.”

The nationals will be tough, the coach said, but the age limit is the same for everyone, and every team has a chance to win. “We just need to remain focused, and make sure that we cover our basics on the field,” he said.

Extra training sessions have been scheduled - and extra classes - because Marolla believes the players have to balance both their academics and their sport.

“I don’t want the players to concentrate too much on the tournament and lose focus in the classroom,” he said.

If he had to single out an individual player that has stood out for the team so far, Marolla would go for the captain, Nino Oliphant. “He is an all- rounder (he moved from goalkeeper to striker this year) and understands the game well. He gives the boys moral support when they are under pressure,” he said.

Limpopo will host the next provincial final at the Noorderland High School in Polokwane on April 16^th.

Results

Dr Isak van Niekerk Primary School 2 Beacon Primary School 3

Vlakfontein Primary School 0 Van Rensburg Primary 2

Leerkrans Intermediate School 1 Dr Isak van Niekerk Primary School 3

Beacon Primary School 4 Vlakfontein Primary School 3

Van Rensburg Primary School 2 Leerkrans Primary School 0

Dr Isak van Niekerk Primary School 2Vlakfontein Primary School 0

Beacon Primary School 2 Van Rensburg Primary School 3

Vlakfontein Primary School 1 Leerkrans Primary 0

Van Rensburg Primary School 0 Dr Isak van Niekerk Primary School 2

Leerkrans Primary School 0 Beacon Primary School 1

Beacon Primary School 2 Van Rensburg Primary School 3

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

 

DNC - Coaching is a vital part of the success of any youth football team

With the 2016 under-12 Danone Nations Cup registration period now closed, the spotlight falls on how the teams are preparing for the upcoming games.  The ultimate winner will represent South Africa at the world finals to be held in France this year at a venue and date still to be announced.

Having the correct coaching staff is key to any team’s success for a number of reasons; firstly to be able to select the best players and this does not necessarily mean the player with the best skills, but the player who is also able to think quickly and make decisions as well.  Secondly, this age is crucial in terms of helping players understand and interpret the rules of the games correctly and teach them how to play as a team as opposed to an individual.

This is according to Keutsepilemang Ndebele, who will be coaching Cambridge Academy from Witbank, Mpumalanga. “Kids at this age are inclined to chase the ball as opposed to playing strategically.”

Cambridge Academy is a private school celebrating its 18^th birthday this year.  There are 500 learners in the school and soccer was introduced into the sports curriculum last year.

Ndebele has an impressive soccer resume. He has been the technical coach for a team in Zimbabwe called Rail Stars FC and studied at the Brazilian Football Academy where former Brazil and Bafana Bafana national coach Carlos Alberto Parrerira was one of the instructors.

He also has a coaching license from English Football Association, and a Namibia CAF coaching qualification. He runs his own soccer academy.

Ndebele believes the Danone Nations Cup is a great platform for soccer development and acknowledges that Danone does great work in nurturing the mind and bodies of children through the tournament. 

“It is also important to ensure the kids have fun,” Said Ndebele.  “This is the age when kids develop their love for the game and it is important to teach good habits and instill correct techniques that will help them throughout their soccer careers. It’s about growing. Every child has a competitive side and wants to be recognised.  This tournament helps nurture that competitive nature and it build confidence.” 

As this will be the school’s first experience in the competition the coach will be using this platform as a learning and growing experience.  The school has not had much match practice and they are not sure how many of the 21 schools in the district have entered the competition, but their focus will be on the team and how they work together as a whole unit. “We have a couple of potentially good players in the squad and my job is to ensure that I develop them as best I can for their futures.” 

These youngsters could not have a better coach and with his experience they can only shine.

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

PSL club gives rural boys a taste of professional football through the Danone Nations Cup

 

Mzolxolo Primary School of Lawaaikamp in the Central Karoo district of the Western Cape have got their entry for the 2016 under-12 Danone Nation Cup competition in, and are hard at work preparing for their opening matches which begins in a few week’s time.
 
As a rural school, far away from the mainstream of school sporting action, the Danone Nations Cup has been a great opportunity for them. This is the third year that they are participating and they made it to Western Cape provincial finals last year where two of their players were spotted and invited to a coaching session with Mamelodi Sundowns, which has had a great impact on them as individuals, and on the school.
 
The two,Wanda Mkhosi and Sphamandla Hlangabeza got a taste at Sundowns of what it takes to be a professional player. They saw how hard you are expected to work, received professional coaching thereby learning new skills, and came back fitter and faster. This was an experience these young rural boys will never forget.
 
They gained the respect of not just the school, but the whole community, and all their team mates look up to them. Although both are still at the school, they cannot participate in the tournament this year as they are 13 years old now. They will be on hand to give advice and guidance to the 2016 team though.
 
Mzolxolo is one of 11 schools in their district and they are hoping their neighbours will all be entering the Danone Nations Cup this year.
 
Every year is a new challenge, says coach, Sidadalo Mehlomakhulu, so although the team did well last year, he won’t be paying much attention to that. “New players come in and we have selected our team and are busy with training sessions’, he said.
 
Mehlomakhulu is a teacher at the school, with no coaching experience, but with a passion for the game. He is excited to have two players – forwards Qhamani Nogqala and Hlomla Stokwe – back from last year’s team.
 
“They have the experience of being part of the tournament and know what to expect. They saw the quality of soccer from the other schools and will be able to mentor the new players.”
 
Among the new players in the team, Mehlomakhulu said, Yethu Maseko stands out. “He is good at dribbling and communicates well with the other players.”
 
“The Danone Nations Cup tournament is a great opportunity for kids to learn more about the game,” he said. “Our young soccer players look forward to this tournament every year.  It has helped grow the sport at the school as we get lots of kids attending trials and following the team.  Then there are the scouts that attend the provincial finals and give youngsters insight into the game at the top level.  We are all teachers with little coaching experience and these scouts also give us valuable football advice to take home and try out.
 
“We encourage more schools to enter. It is a great experience.”
 
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