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Shapeve
Primary School are the under-12 Danone Nations Cup Mpumalanga provincial
champions after beating Makhathini Primary in the final at the Mpumalanga
Stadium in Ermelo last Saturday.
The
participating schools were:
Gert
Sibande region: Shapeve Primary School
Ehlanzeni
region: Maqhekeza Primary School
Nkangala
region: Makhathini Primary School
Bohlabela
region: Daniye Primary School
Shapeve
were fortunate to be in the final at all. They finished third on the log, but
snuck into the final when Daniye, who came first, were disqualified for
irregularities in their entries.
They
beat Makhathini 2-1 to qualify for the national finals in Boksburg on September
15th.
Team
manager, Andries Muthupi, said it was a dream come true to get them into the
national finals for the first time in 9 years, in his first year as manager of
the team. “It’s very exciting for me personally, but it would never have
happened without the skilled players we have,” he said.
Muthupi has a SAFA D License and has attended seminars at
Orlando Pirates and Supersport FC which has helped a lot as he was able to
groom the youngsters and teach them the correct methods before bad habits are
learnt which are difficult to change later in a footballer’s career.
“Having
the qualifications enabled me to recreate game plans after assessing how the
other teams were playing,” he said. “I watched Makhathini and assessed their
format and devised the final game plan accordingly. It paid off.”
They
are all looking forward to travelling to Johannesburg for the national finals.
It will be the first time in the city for him and the players. “But the
nationals will be a very different ball game as the top schools from all 9
provinces will be there,” he cautioned.
Muthupi
thanked Danone for the amazing opportunity they are giving the kids. “Most of
the schools that participate are from rural areas and to be able to get the
opportunity to travel to the big city and compete in such a high-profile
tournament is outstanding for these youngsters who might never have been given
such an opportunity,” he said.
“The
tournament opens young minds at the endless opportunities there are out there,
and gives them the drive to set goals and to want to achieve great things. And
to think that the ultimate winner will get a chance to travel overseas, in this
case to Spain in 2019, is fantastic.”
Shapeve
coach Xolani Ngubane knew they had an excellent chance of winning the
provincial title. “It’s exam time now and the boys must focus on this because
education is extremely important. Then it is school holidays, so training will resume
at the start of the new term.”
Facing
Makhathini in the final match was tough, Ngubane said, as they lost 3-0 to them
in their league encounter. “My boys went into the game to redeem themselves.
They had the will to win and from the first ball they showed their dominance
scoring 2 goals in quick succession.”
Both
goals were scored by their star player of the day, Tshepo Mhlambi. “Makhathini
pulled one back at the end of the game but we managed to win which means we are
the ones going to Gauteng,” Ngubane concluded.
Mamelodi
Sundowns scout Mandla Mazibuko was there and from the start and identified
Shapeve as a school with talented players and felt the school who will go far
in the tournament. His hunch proved
correct. Who knows what will happen at
the Nationals as the tournament is far from over!
Results
Game
1: Makhathini PS 3 – 0 Daniye PS
Game
2: Shapeve PS 1 – 1 Maqhekeza PS. Shapeve won 3-2 on penalties.
Game
3: Shapeve PS 0 - 3 Makhathini PS
Game
4: Daniye PS 0 – 3 Maqhekeza PS
Game
5: Maqhekeza PS 0 – 1 Makhathini PS
Game
6: Daniye PS 0 - 3 Shapeve PS
Game
7: Makhathini 1 vs Shapeve 2 (final).
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