PRESS RELEASE: Gauteng primary school enters the Danone Nations Cup for the first time

As entries keep coming in for the under-12 Danone Nations Cup, the signs are pointing to it being a bumper edition of what is already the biggest under-12 school soccer tournament in the land.

Many schools have entered for the first time including Curro Wilgeheuwel of the Johannesburg West region.

According to Tshepiso More, the school sports coordinator and team manager, the school only opened in January last year and he found out about the Danone Nations Cup through Facebook. He wanted to get them involved because he believes it’s a way of giving children an opportunity to become professional players.  It introduces them to competitive soccer which he feels is important. 

“I’m thrilled to be a part of this huge tournament.” He said.  “It won’t be easy in our first time entering, but it’s learning experience for us.”

He is currently conducting trials to select the team and most of the players that were in last year’s under-11 team belong top local clubs such as Panorama and Supersport United.

“They are the right age this year and because they play for clubs and compete in local leagues they won’t be under pressure when they play in the cluster level of the tournament,” More said. “I want the players to get as much exposure in soccer as they can. It’s important for children to keep activate in sport as it helps to build their confidence, teaches them trust and team work and they develop great relationships with their teammates.  It also keeps them healthy and off the couch where kids today are inclined to end up playing video games.”

More said that last year was spent training rather than competing in any tournaments and playing against other schools, so he is not sure who the school will be meeting in their local cluster games which kick-off in a couple of months.  “We are still in the building phase and I am using this opportunity to test my boys and build a competitive culture in our sports department. We are only a year old and I have a number of sporting codes to get up and running and I am using the Danone Nations Cup to encourage all my sports teams.”

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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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