The under-12 boys from KZN are counting down the days to their one-in-a-lifetime experience of playing football in New York City.

 

The boys from Mophela Primary School are counting down the days until they leave for one of the biggest cities in the world, New York City, to compete in the biggest soccer tournament for kids between 10 and 12 years old in the world, the Danone Nations Cup world finals.  The tournament kicks-off in a week’s time with 32 countries competing for the world title.

The team from Hammarsdale, KwaZulu-Natal, leaves for the USA on Tuesday.  There is a lot of excitement and there is also some trepidation in the camp.

Team coach, Siyabonga Ndimande, says the enormity of what is about to transpire has hit home.  “Not only are we representing KZN but we are representing the country which just adds more pressure.  I now know how the Bafana Bafana, Springbok and Proteas coaches must feel before a tournament.”

The team attended a send-off function put on by the Mayor of eThekweni, councillor Zandile Gumede, on Thursday, 14^th September and will travel to Johannesburg on Sunday, 17^th September where they will have two final training sessions with the Bidvest Wits development coaches (Sunday and Monday afternoons) before boarding the plane on Tuesday, 19^th September.

“I believe that we have done enough to ensure the team is ready,” said Ndimande.  “Their spirits are high and they are excited about this once in a lifetime experience.  The training sessions with the Bidvest Wits coaches will help us with our final touch ups and will also give us insight into preparing for international tournaments.”

What the boys are looking forward to, above the football, is their first airplane trip, eating different foods, seeing the sights of New York, getting to understand different cultures and most importantly making as many friends as possible, explained Ndimande.

“We have been told that the kids from the other countries could well be taller and stronger than us and so to prepare we have been playing against the under-13 and under-15 teams from St Bay FC - a local NFD club – and I asked their coach, Spha Shabalala, to tell them not to go easy on us as we must learn to handle the physical challenge up ahead,” said Ndimande.

Coach Shabalala has been helping Ndimande at training sessions and has shared some very important ideas with the team.  They have also been training at the Mpumalanga stadium so that they can get used to playing on smooth, well-grassed fields, something they do not have at home.

This is a dream come true and Ndimande thanks the sponsors for it. “There is nothing to equal boys from the rural areas going all the way to the USA and playing football in a massive stadium with 32 countries.  That would never have been possible without Danone and we are grateful to them.”