Eastern Cape school hopes that watching Chippa United vs Black Leopards will help win the Danone Nations Cup National Finals

Preparations for the national finals of the under-12 Danone Nations Cup soccer tournament are well underway.  The nine provincial champions are getting in those last practise sessions before they all head to Soweto’s Dobsonville Stadium on the 15^th of September.

The winner there will represent South Africa in the Danone Nations Cup world finals in Barcelona, Spain in 2019.

Charles Morgan Public School from King Williams Town will represent the Eastern Cape at the Nationals.  The coach, Xolile Madikane, has been working hard with the boys to get them ready for Gauteng. The starting point was taking the players to a live PSL match between Chippa United and Black Leopards to get them used to a large stadium, crowd noise and to observe the way the teams played including ball positions, build up, passing and communication between players. 

Getting ready for the national finals is more than just sharpening skills, explained the coach. “Preparing for the nationals is completely different to playing cluster and provincial games,” said Madikane.  “Firstly, the boys will be leaving the province for the first time and going to South Africa’s largest city, a daunting experience on its own.  I have told the boys that all the teams that we will be competing against will be exceptional.  Like us, they have all played many qualifiers and will therefore be the best teams from their respective province.  Further, most of them would have played far more qualifiers than we have, particularly the bigger provinces like KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.”

Reaching the Danone Nations Cup national finals has put the school on the map.  “We have been competing in the tournament since it started in 2000 and this is the first time we have made it to the national finals.  The entire school has rallied behind the team and I can see that their confidence has grown, even in the classroom,” said the coach, who has no coaching qualifications and is the school’s Life Skills and Technology teacher, having joined them in 1995.  “The boys are socializing better and by going to the PSL game they understand that everyone needs to follow instructions and you have to work hard and stay focused.”

Key high-profile personalities have been educated at the school including Steve Biko, who was not only a politician but also a great sportsman, said Madikane.  “Every September we hold a sporting event which includes a number of sporting codes in his memory.”

Many of their scholars have gone on to be key members of society including doctors, lawyers and businessmen.  “We also educated a scratch golfer, Dan Jonas, who runs a development golf programme. He comes to the school and motivates the learners and encourages them to believe in their dreams.” 

Madikane will rely on striker, Mahobe Achumile, at the nationals.  “Mahobe is a gifted player who always motivates the team and puts others first.  He is a mentor to the boys and they listen to him. I believe he will make an impression at the nationals.”

Nutrition is also important, and the coach is ensuring the players stick to a healthy, balanced diet prior to the nationals. “Healthy eating will ensure the boys keep fit and strong while building stamina and endurance, which are important considering the number of games they will be playing on the day of the nationals.”

The schools that have qualified for the Danone Nations Cup national finals include:

NORTHERN CAPE    Lutzburg Intermediate School
FREE STATE    Tshediso Xolani Primary School
LIMPOPO    Benny's Sports Academy & Development
MPUMANLANGA    Shapeve Primary School
NORTH WEST    Laerskool Rustenburg Noord
KZN     Muzuvukile Primary School
EASTERN CAPE     Charles Morgan Primary School
WESTERN CAPE     Nomlinganiselo Primary School
GAUTENG     Zamukhanya Primary School