Tuesday, February 6, 2018

Danone Nations Cup youngster from Limpopo get national call up


Since its inception in 2000, the under-12 Danone Nations Cup soccer tournament has produced many players that have gone on to compete for top PSL and international clubs and some have gone on to be member of various national teams. 

A player that is destined be one of the tournament’s success stories is Xolani Muleya.  This 13-year old, who competed for Benny’s Sports Development Academy at the Danone Nations Cup world finals in 2016, was called up to the SA national under-17 team in December to compete against Lesotho.

Xolani made a massive difference to the team that went to France for the world finals where he showed his versatility by playing defence, midfield and striker.  His performance caught the attention of other countries who rated him highly as a future star.

He believes the Danone Nations Cup contributed greatly to his growth in soccer. He started out as a shy and quiet boy. He was tall and awkward then and felt out of place.  It was the Danone representatives that spoke to him and told him to be proud of his height and strength and to go out onto the field in France and be himself.   This gave him the confidence he needed to show what he was capable of and this, he believes, contributed to him getting selected for the under-17 National Team.

When he was informed by the school that he had been selected to attend a national camp with two other players Sibusiso Ndimande and Innocent Khwerana, he couldn’t believe it at first. He was the youngest player in the squad.

“It was great to get an opportunity to represent my country,” he said. “I’m happy I can make my father Fortune Ndlovu proud. He is my role model. My father attends all my matches, no matter how far he has to travel.  Seeing him in the stands helps with my confidence and enables me to play better.”

Benny’s school principal, Nqobile Nfiade believes the Danone Nations Cup changed Xolani in many ways. He is more confident and can talk to other learners now. His academics have improved as well.”.

The atmosphere was vibrant at the school after they announced that Xolani and the two other players were selected for the under-17 national team. “It’s a huge achievement for the school and that wouldn’t have happened if they didn’t win the trip to France.”

He hopes that many soccer players will look at Xolani’s journey and see that anything is possible and that they can also make their dreams come true. “I believe that we will see Xolani playing in the PSL and for Bafana Bafana one day.”

In the meantime, Benny’s have begun their preparations for the 2018 Danone Nations Cup. Coach Mbishi Mokwena is disappointed that they never made the provincial finals last year, although he wasn’t the coach then.

“I’m happy that my mentor Justice Matloga, who owns Greenway Academy, won the provincial final as coach of Haggai Independent Combined School,” he said. “I learned a lot from him. Not many schools can win the Danone Nations Cup tournament in their first year of entering.”

Mbishi believes the tournament has opened doors for players across the country and he is glad that he was able to produce a star like Xolani Muleya.

Mbishi believes that the Danone Nation Cup is a great platform to expose these young players to international soccer and give them a vision of what their future can look like.

Schools can register for the competition by contacting the national coordinator at the SA Schools Football Association (SASFA), Themba Tshabalala, on 011 403 2844, 084 290 0602 or 072 588 4957. Alternatively, they can visit the Danone Nations Cup South Africa Facebook page or go to www.facebook.com/dncsouthafrica to download the necessary documents. (Documents are always on Danone.co.za also)


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