Danone Nations Cup is a breeding ground for future football players

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When coach Xolile Kete joined Mzimhlophe Primary School, situated in Zwide township in Port Elizabeth, as a Maths teacher at the beginning of the year he had never heard of the Danone Nations Cup. Eight months later he is busy preparing the school’s under-12 team to play in the Eastern Cape provincial finals taking place at Laёrskool Kuswag in East London on Saturday, 4 August, kick-off at 9.30am.

This is a major achievement for the school, explained Kete.  “When I arrived the school was in a crisis.  Entering the Danone Nations cup had become a tradition since 2009, but they were without a coach this year.  I happen to have a SAFA level 1 coaching certificate and offered my services.”

And now, not only has the crisis been averted, but, for the first time since they entered the tournament, the school has qualified for the provincial finals.

“I think my coaching qualification helped, even though this is the first time I have coached a team,” he said. “It has helped me to deal with youngsters at this age.”

The Danone Nations Cup is no ordinary competition, he found out. “There’s something special about it. It’s tradition for the school to enter the tournament and they take it seriously and prepare the best they can. It’s every soccer player in the school’s dream to play in the tournament. Yes, they have never managed get past the regional stage before, but just to participate is important. To compete is a dream come true.”

The tradition of entering the tournament means that there is support from the principal, learners and teachers and this is motivation for the kids to play their best.

It’s helpful that all the players belong to local clubs in the area. “Most of them play for the Young Idols or the Mighty Warriors Football Clubs,” Kete said. “I encourage them to be a part of these clubs so that they can play all year, not only in our soccer season in the second term.”

Kete thanks the Danone Nations Cup for offering such great exposure to young players in the country. 

The Nelson Mandela Bay regional finals took place at Gelvandale. Seven schools, divided into 2 groups, took part. Mzimhlophe Primary was grouped with Ben Nyati Primary School from Kwazakhele Zone, Empumalange Primary School from Motherwell Zone and Magqabi Primary School from Kwaobuhle.

Their first game was against Ben Nyati. Kete said his team stuck to the game plan and won 2-1. The boys were even more focused in their second game against Magqabi Primary School, which they won 4 0. The final league game was against Empumalange Primary School, which they won 3 – 1 to put them top of the log and they were through to the final against Malabar Primary School from Northern Areas Zone.  “It was our toughest match,” Kete said. “Both teams were fighting to represent the Nelson Mandela Bay. We didn’t back down and won 2-1 to get us through to the provincial finals.”

Kete knows that the provincial finals will be tough, but his boys are focused and experienced and he feels confident that they could just go a step further to the national finals. “

The provincial finalists are:

Joe Gqabi region: Ngxaza Junior Secondary School

Chris Hani region: Empumelelelweni Senior Primary School

Buffalo City Municipality: Charles Morgan Primary School

Amathole region: Fort Malan Senior Primary School

Alfred Nzo region: Patekile Junior Secondary School

Sarah Baartman region: Gcinubuzwe Primary School

Nelson Mandela Bay region: Mzimhlope Primary School

OR Tambo:  Nomandi Junior Secondary School