Ekurhuleni region will be sending
two schools to compete in the under-12 Danone Nations Cup Gauteng provincial
finals happening at the WJ Clement Stadium in Reiger
Park this Saturday, 17th June, kicking off at 9.30am.
Thembalethu
Primary School and Roseview Primary School have both been competing in the
competition for a number of years and this is the first time in the provincial
finals for both of them.
In big
regions like Ekurhuleni, the number of schools that enter the competition makes
qualification especially tough, so getting a step closer to a possible trip to
the USA for the world finals later in the year is very exciting for both
schools.
Thembalethu
Primary is in Katlehong and their team is coached by Maletlotlo Maphuthuma. She
took up a voluntary position in Thembalethu in 2016 after resigning from her
position as a document controller to follow her passion which is working with
children.
She is
currently studying for her degree in Education at UNISA and, after being
appointed by the school as the sport coordinator, was invited by the Katlehong
Schools District to attend a SAFA coaching course where she obtained her SAFA D
coaching license.
“The
SAFA course was an eye-opener,” she said. “I believe every soccer coach at
school level should have a qualification to learn how to get the best out of
their young players and teach them good habits. I believe this is what
helped us get that step further this year in the Danone Nations Cup.”
Thembalethu
will be up against fellow Ekurhuleni school, Roseview Primary, based in Duduza.
Siphelele
Buthelezi has been the coach there for the past six years, however his is
on education - teaching natural science, technology and isiZulu - so this year
he boosted his technical staff and became the team's manager appointing Mxolisi
Mhlongo from Empangeni as the new coach.
Mhlongo
recently graduated from the University of Zululand and teaches Maths, Social
Science, Technology and isiZulu.
He has
no formal coaching qualifications but did play soccer of the University of
Zululand and played in the in the University Sports games in 2014 and 2015 and
in the 2016 Universities Federation of Africa Sport tournament.
Buthelezi
felt they needed that type of experience to help the school take the next step
in the Danone Nations Cup and get to the provincials, so the coaching of the
team was entrusted to Mhlongo, and it worked.
“He
knows and understand the pressure of playing soccer at this level,” Buthelezi
said.
It also
helps that all the players are attached to local soccer clubs in the area, so
they know about the pressure of playing in big games.
“We are
grateful to Danone for sponsoring this very important development tournament
for the past 17 years. The big prize of a trip to the USA cannot be
equaled," Buthelezi said.
“It’s
important to get insight into how other countries play the game at a
developmental level. So, of course I’m hoping we will be the school that
goes to the USA for the world finals. That’s the plan, but we realise it
won’t be easy”.
The
venue for the world finals is still to be announced. There will be 32 countries
participating there.
The
Gauteng provincial finalists are:
Johannesburg:
Florida Laan Primary School
Johannesburg:
Zenzeleni Primary School
Ekurhuleni:
Thembalethu Primary School
Ekurhuleni:
Roseview Primary School
Tshwane:
Sunnyside Primary School
Tshwane:
St Joseph’s Primary School
West
Rand: JB Marks Primary
JHB
Primary Schools: Reddam House Prep School
Sedibeng:
Arcon Park Primary
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