The School representing South Africa at the Danone Nations Cup World Finals in Spain will be known on 9 July at Eldorado Park

With the National Finals of the Danone Nations Cup around the corner, the nine teams that have made it through the qualifying stages of the competition are putting in their final training sessions in preparation for the 9 July.   The ultimate prize for the team that wins is a trip to Spain from 5 to 10 October to compete in the Danone Nations Cup World Finals with 39 other countries.

Approximately 2 000 schools registered to compete in the tournament.  Knockout competitions have been happening around the country since February and it is now down to just nine school teams, or 126 youngsters, who will be converging on the Eldorado Park Stadium to compete in the National Finals.  Games kick-off at 8.30am. 

It’s about pride, believes Eric Busakwe. Busakwe is the coach of Phakamisani Primary, the team that won the Western Cape Provincial leg of the 2011 Danone Nations Cup. Phakamisani has taken part in the Danone Nations Cup for the past five years, making it to the National Finals for three consecutive years.

“We were very close to representing South Africa at the World Finals last year,” Busakwe says. “But Sinenzuzo Primary beat us on penalties in the semifinals and we had to swallow our pride. There is only one thing on our minds right now, and that is to come back from Jo’burg as the National champions.”  

The 2011 Danone Nations Cup has seen many past winners knocked out of the running to make way for newcomers.  2010 National Champions from KwaZulu-Natal, Sinenzuzo Primary, were knocked out in the early rounds while 2008 and 2009 Champions, Bree Primary, who also were crowned World Champions in 2009, were knocked out in the Gauteng Provincial Finals.

With the top teams not competing, Busakwe believes that Ndongeni Primary from KwaZulu Natal will be the team to beat.

“The KwaZulu-Natal teams always give us a headache,” Busakwe explains. “They have a style of play that is very similar to our on-the-ground attacking style. But we have a plan on how to deal with them this time around - they won’t surprise us like they did last year. We are going to Spain this year, period.”

11 year old striker, Tebogo Mosetlhe, from the host school, Sapebuso Primary, will be in action on Saturday:  “We played very well in the Provincials beating experienced teams such as Bree Primary and that has given us confidence to do well in the National Finals. Our school principal and all the teachers will be there as well to give us moral support so I am very excited for Saturday.” Mosetlhe would like to be in Spain and has identified shaking hands with Danone Nations Cup Ambassador,  Zinedine Zindane, as the highlight of his trip – if he is a member of the lucky team that wins!

Sponsors Danone, together with partners Canon, will be erecting an Activity area for kids at the stadium which will include skills games, jumping castles, face painting, Canon photographers will be taking random pictures which the kids can take home immediately and many more.

“By bringing healthy food and some good healthy fun together, children learn about life through a shared experience. And to those who get to the world finals, it is an experience that will undoubtedly become a cherished memory,” explains Sandra Dorville, Communications Manager of Danone Southern Africa. “The experience of interacting with teams from other cultures and places in the world while playing the beautiful game gives the international leg of the Danone Nations Cup the feeling of a real world cup, but only for under-12’s.”

Gauteng fans are invited to join in the action of the National Final at Eldorado Park Stadium in Johannesburg on 9 July 2011 to see who will be going to the World Finals. The teams that will be battling it out for the top spot are Kgwahlele Primary (Limpopo), Nosizwe Primary (North West), Mhlahle Primary (Mpumalanga), Ndongeni Primary (KwaZulu-Natal), Robanyane Primary (Northern Cape), Backerville Primary (Eastern Cape), Phakamisani Primary (Western Cape) and Sapebuso Primary (Gauteng).  ENTRANCE FREE!

CANON SA, A PROUD PARTNER OF THE 2011 DANONE NATIONS CUP

Danone Southern Africa is proud to announce that Canon, world-leader in imaging solutions, will be supporting the Danone Nations Cup, the largest youth football tournament for players between the ages of 10 and 12 in the world.  The tournament has been organised by Danone since 2000 and involves 2.5 million youngsters each year from all corners of the world.

Run under the auspices of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA), the South African leg of the Danone Nations Cup includes over 2 000 schools from all corners of the country. For the local tournament, Canon South Africa is sponsoring all still and video photography, will sponsor various camera prizes to be utilised as give-aways to the public, VIP’s and other guests and will also provide Canon Say Cheese photographers who will be taking social photographs of the guests in the VIP area at the National Finals held on 9 July 2011. Various other prizes will also be sponsored by Canon for media to give away as competition prizes leading up to the finals in order to create as much awareness as possible around the tournament.

Danone and Canon will also be campaigning to find a Kids Reporter who will accompany the South African team to Madrid, Spain from 5 – 10 October.  This youngster, who must be between the ages of 12 and 16, will go armed with a Canon Ixus 1000HS camera to take pictures for various South African publications.  Etv, who will be sending a camera crew to Spain, have further agreed to allow the winner to report on his experience which will be broadcast on Eshibobo on his return to South Africa.

Michelle Janse van Vuuren, Marketing Manager of Canon South Africa says:  “Globally Canon has supported football for many years and with Canon Europe putting its weight behind the Danone Nations Cup 2011 we at Canon SA are equally excited about our involvement.”

“Soccer brings people together, and in South Africa this was clearly demonstrated during the 2010 FIFA World Cup. We believe the Danone Nations Cup encourages the young participants to become excellent sportsmen and always give their best in order to achieve success. It gives us great pleasure to help capture the memories and tell the story that these youngsters will want to cherish forever.”

Danone is once again delighted with the partnership:  “The Danone Nations Cup is 12 years old this year and has gained credibility in the international world of football and boasts FIFA’s stamp of approval. Canon’s involvement has also contributed to placing the tournament on a different level,” said Sandra Dorville, Communications Manager of Danone South Africa.

“Danone’s goal is to offer as many youngsters in the world the opportunity to live their dream, promote sport and its values to young people and in line with our brand values, encourage healthy living through nutritious food to as many people as possible.  Canon now also helps us to capture this on film forever.”

The Danone Nations Cup National Finals will be held at Eldorado Park on 9 July involving the nine Provincial winners. 

BARKERVILLE PRIMARY TO REPRESENT EASTERN CAPE AT THE NATIONAL FINALS

Seisa Dukashe Stadium in East London hosted the Eastern Cape leg of the Danone Nations Cup Provincial Finals, which saw Barkerville Primary School from the Alfred Nzo, beating Nkunzimbini from the O R Tambo Region, 4 – 0 to lift the trophy and become the 2011 Eastern Cape champions for the second time in three years.

The hero of the day was 10 year old attacking striker Slindile Jaane who scored a brace which helped his team emerge victorious.  Their next challenge will be the National Finals happening at the Eldoradopark Stadium in Gauteng on 9 July.  

If Bakerville win the National finals they will be the first Eastern Cape team to represent South Africa in the Danone Nations Cup World Finals which take place in Spain from 5 – 10 October.

But for many of the Bakerville youngsters just the trip to the City of Gold to play in the Nations finals is an exciting prospect and youngster, Qamane Mandlevo, who has never owned a pair of boots, is one such player.  This youngster is the team’s top goal scorer after netting 13 goals in just eight matches.

“Coach has told us that if we win in Gauteng we will travel by airplane to meet Zinedine Zidane in Spain which has made me even more determined to score more goals at the National finals,” says the 11 year old striker, Jaane.

Currently Jaane plays all his football on a pitch without grass and his dream is to become a player like his idol, Andile Jali currently with Orlando Pirates.  Jali originates from the Eastern Cape.

Bakerville  coach, Mpilo Changa has full confidence in his team and has singled out striker Slindile Jaane and team captain Sakhuxolo Ntsikilana as his key players. “We have worked really hard this season. At some point I thought we were going to be knocked out at the lowers level as most of my players are from disadvantaged backgrounds and it is not always possible for them to travel to attend games and practice sessions so our training has been inconsistent.  In fact I had to pay for transport for the kids to practice sessions, but this was never a problem as each and every player has a passion for the sport and a dream to go far.  I could not disappoint them.”

Barkerville is the seventh team to qualify for the 2011 National Finals after Nosizwe primary of the North West, Mhlahle from Mpumalanga, Robanyane primary of the Northern Cape, Mofulatshepe from Free State, Ndogeni Primary from KwaZulu – Natal and Kgwahlele from the Limpopo Province.

The overall winner in the National Championships will realize the dream of enjoying the Danone Nations Cup experience at an international final from 5 – 10 October, where they will not only compete for the world title but will have the opportunity to share with other young soccer lovers from across the globe, meet an international soccer icon Zinedine Zidane and most importantly have fun!

RESULTS – NORTH WEST PROVINCIAL FINALS

POOL - A

TEAM 1 – MZIMKHULU PRIMARY SCHOOL

TEAM 2 – ZANOXOLO PRIMARY SCHOOL

TEAM 3 – NKUNZIMBINI PRIMARY SCHOOL

TEAM 4 – CHARLES MORGAN PRIMARY SCHOOL

POOL - A

TEAM 1 – EMPUMELELWENI PRIMARY SCHOOL

TEAM 2 – BARKERVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL

Mzimkhulu Primary   0 vs     Zanoxolo Primary 3

Nkuzimbini Primary 1  (4)   vs      Charles Morgan  Primary 1 (5)

Empumelelweni  Primary   1 (2)    vs       Bakerville Primary 1 (3)

Mzimkhulu Primary  0   vs      Nkuzimbini  Primary 3

Zanoxolo Primary   1   vs       Charles Morgan Primary 0

Barkerville Primary 3 vs Vusumzi Primary 0

Charles Morgan Primary 3 vs Mzimkhulu Primary 0

Ntunzimbini Primary 2 vs Zanoxolo Primary 0

Vusumzi Primary 1 vs Empumelelweni 3

FINAL LOG POSTION

POOL A: 1^st – Ntuzimbini Primary, 2^nd – Zanoxolo Primary, 3^rd – Charles Morgan Primary, 4^th – Mzimkhulu Primary.

POOL B: 1^st – Barkerville Primary, 2^nd – Empumelelweni Primary 3^nd - Vusumzi Primary,

FINAL

Nkunzimbini Primary 0 vs  Barkerville Primary 4

WINNER DANONE NATIONS CUP – EASTERN CAPE 2011 – Barkerville Primary School