HTS Louis Botha emerge as champions of the Free State Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Provincial Finals

Bloemfontein’s HTS Louis Botha beat Dr Reginald Cingo Secondary School from Kroonstad on penalties to emerge as the under-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Free State provincial champions.  They take home R100 000 prize money and automatically qualify for the national finals where they get the chance to increase their winnings.  In terms of the rules of the competition Dr Reginald Cingo also qualify for the provincial finals.

HTS Louis Botha last won the title, and went on to finish second in the national finals of the tournament in 2013, and their coach, Prince Sani, said they were always confident they would make it to the nationals again this year.

“The team has worked hard since the beginning of the year and we came into the provincials with a positive and clear attitude and confident players,” he said.

And, playing on their home ground also helped. “We were playing on a field that we are familiar with, and had the support of our students, parents and members of the 2013 team who came to watch,” Sani said.

The finals did not go completely smoothly – they had to play their last two games with 10 men after a player received a red card – but the coach said they fought all the way till the end.

“This year the competition was extremely tough, I must congratulate all the schools that made it to the provincials. I believe the best 6 schools were showcased on Saturday.”

Louis Botha were drawn in the same pool as close rivals Grey College, whom they played twice before the finals, and beat them both times.  During the provincial finals the game ended with neither team managing to score which shows that Grey came prepared, Sani said. “They have improved from the last time we met them, all the schools came well prepared.”

Louis Botha met Dr Reginald Cingo in the final match and Sani said they were their toughest competition on the day. The game ended in a 1-all draw but his side managed to win on penalties.

“Every year the level of schools soccer in the Free State improves. It was definitely better this year than in 2013 when we last won the provincials.”

Louis Botha was in a tough group, along with Grey College and Concordia High School –the team that eliminated the defending champions, Harmony, this year.

“I was wary of Concordia, they had beaten Harmony, one of the strongest teams in Free State, and I didn’t know anything about them,” Sani said.

“I did speak to their coach, and did some research, and the first league game was Grey v Concordia so I could watch them and study their style of play. They were a challenge, but we managed to beat them 1-0.”

As far as the nationals are concerned, this team has been at the national level before in other tournaments, Sani points out, so they have experience in that regard.

“But the Kay Motsepe is different. This is the most prestigious tournament and we need to apply a different approach. The team has been watching the recording of the 2013 final game against Clapham. It motivates them to put in 110% in each and every game,” Sani said.

“I have told them that it is their time rise to the occasion, this year we are not looking to be runners- up. The 1st prize which is what every school will be aiming for. I know that Gauteng and Western Cape always brings the best schools. That’s where the challenge will come from!” he said.

Results

Grey College 2 vs. Concordia 2

Grey College 0 vs. HTS Louis Botha 0

Concordia 0 vs. HTS Louis Botha 1

Dr Cingo 4 vs. Ikanyegeng 0

Dr Cingo 1 vs. Manthatisi 0

Ikanyegeng 0 vs. Manthatisi 1

Final

HTS Louis Botha 1 (6) vs. Dr Cingo 1 (5)

Bloemfontein High School vies for the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Provincial Title

Winning a slice of the R3.4 million on offer in the under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup soccer tournament has eluded Brebner High School from Bloemfontein’s Motheo District over the years.  This year, with a more experienced team, they are hoping the status will change, but they will have to beat the current Free State champions, HTS Louis Botha first.

“So far so good,” said coach, Lee-Sheldon Bateman.  “We have won all our cluster games to date, and we are looking forward to squaring up, once again, against our rival, HTS Louis Botha.”

HTS Louis Botha has an advantage over Brebner, Bateman believes, because their scouts travel all over the country to look for talent. “We work with students that come to study at the school and do not have the option of choosing from a pool of academy players,” he said.

“Louis Botha will always be our rival school and I think that my team gets a bit intimidated because they are an academy. However, when it comes to football skills, technical and tactically we can match up against them on any given day,” said Bateman.

 The 2014 Brebner team is an experienced one. Bateman explains that last year he had younger players in the team, and many of them are still there.  “That works for us because they now have the experience of participating in this tournament so they know what to expect. They also work hard, are passionate and have the mental ability to play soccer.”

The team has played two friendlies against club sides in preparation for the regional finals, and have won them both. “The players are showing that they really want to win this year,” Bateman said.

The coach believes he has a well-balanced team and they are all impressive in their own right. He does, however, single out one player, midfielder Thato Moloi, who has so much natural talent that he can’t fault him on anything.  “He is PSL material, he has a great future in soccer that’s if he maintains who he is and stays true to his passion and talent,” he said.

 Bateman has a solid background in the game. He has been coaching since 2004, after playing for Bloemfontein Celtic from 2001 to 2003. He has a Level 1 qualification and has attended a number of coaching courses over the years.

 Bateman appreciates the work that Sanlam and the Motsepe Foundation are doing for soccer development. “Aspiring players have the opportunity to better themselves, they just need to work hard and be determined,” he said.

“I have heard that some of the HTS Louis Botha players were scouted and are now part of the Mamelodi Sundowns Academy. I hope some of our players will get this opportunity this year, when they progress to the nationals.”

Bateman is not sure who they will be playing next but says they have upped their level of training as the more they progress the tougher it will be. “We need to make sure that we are prepared for the competition as it’s not going to be easy from now on,” he said.

FREE STATE SCHOOLS DO WELL IN SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP

It was a Second and fourth place finish for the Free State schools in the national finals of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, that took place at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban last week.  Louis Botha Technical High School from Bloemfontein finished in second place and Harmony High School (Virginia) ended in fourth place.  This means that, of the R3.4 million in total prize money, R1.6 will go to the province, making it the second most successful province in the tournament, behind Gauteng .

This was Louis Botha’s first national final experience, losing 2-1 to Pretoria’s Clapham High School in the final. They breezed through the pool stages of the competition, beating Okiep 2-0, Eric Nxumalo 4-0, East High 1-0 and Ndamase 6-0 ending the pool drawing with Benny’s Sports 1-1.

In the quarterfinals they beat Mondale on penalties, after the scores were locked on 1-all at the end of extra time, followed by a 1-0 win over Rosina Sedibane 0 in the semis to get to the finals.

There were some individual honours for the team - Ofentse Motlhanke was named Goalkeeper of the Tournament, and coach, Prins Soni, was named the Best Coach of the tournament.

Louis Botha won R100 000 as provincial champions and an added R600 000 for second place overall and  Harmony, the most successful school in the tournament to date, get R400 000.

Team manager, Norman Ngomba, says the standard of football at the national finals was exceptional. “The regional and provincial level was what we are accustomed to, but what we saw at the national finals was completely different, it took us by surprise,” he said.

The toughest game, according to Ngomba, was the final against Clapham. “They were so tactical and organised. They played with a cool head and even when we shut down their star, Percy Tau, they did not seem to flinch.”

The coach said they went into the tournament with the view of using it as a learning curve for next year.
“Our strategy was not to put pressure on the boys,” he said. “And our result was way beyond what we expected. It sure was a learning curve and we learnt something different from every school.  For example,  Rosina was a team that was united, they played simple football which worked for them, they play excellent one touch football; Modale High played a different style of play, they were more tactical, which is how I want us to be; and Clapham had everything, tactical and technical ability and experience. Their players belong to the Mamelodi Sundowns Academy and I believe they get a chance to play against the first team once a month, such experience is what we were competing against.”

Ngomba says that playing in front of Sundowns president Patrice Mr Motsepe, was something they will never forget. “All the players admire him, and the work that he is doing, not just for football but also in the arts and culture as well as in business,” he said.

He is also full of praise for Sanlam, the tournament sponsors. “I hope they continue to sponsor the tournament as they have added so much to it since they came on board in 2010. It has grown into a much sought after tournament. I now have insight into insurance and am definitely getting life insurance in the near future. I want to make sure that if something happens to me, my family is well looked after.”

The coach vows to be back again next year, and is already preparing the team.

Sundowns Academy, Clapham High School, win R1 million as 2013 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Champions

Gauteng’s Clapham High School took the R1 million first prize after winning the 2013 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup.  They beat Louis Botha Technical High School 2 – 0 in the final.  To hand out the trophy was Mr Patrice Motsepe, owner of Mamelodi Sundowns, the club that most of the players belong to.

“I am so happy,” said leading goal scorer, Khayelihle Shozi, who finished on 7 goals. “To play before my president and all the scouts that put me where I am today was an honour.  I wanted to show them that the decision to bring me into the Sundowns Academy was the right one.”

Clapham finished the tournament winning every game they played scoring an impressive 27 goals in 8 games averaging over 3 a game. 

Louis Botha might have finished in second place but they were very pleased with this and the R600 000 that went with it.  Coach, Prince Sani believes that it is not about winning but the experience.  “This is our first time in this tournament and to get this far is fantastic.  Further, I only formed the team this year so they are new and we will keep working and will definitely be back next year.  This is such a good experience for the boys.”

Sani believed that playing in the final against a team that is so tactical and technical  astute only helped his boys see what true professional football is all about.  “We have all loved our trip to Durban and will most definitely go back home wiser footballers.”

Meanwhile Rosina Sedibane Modiba beat Harmony High school 2 – 1 to clinch third place. “We travelled to Durban with Clapham, who beat us to win the provincial finals, and have built a really good relationship with them.  We were hoping to meet them in the final, but finishing third is also good.  The R500 000 will come in handy to further improve the school.

Results:

THIRD/FOURTH PLAY-OFF

Harmony 0  vs Rosina 2

Goals: Sifiso Nkosi, Kabelo Seriba

FINAL

Clapham 2 vs Louis Botha 1

CHS:  Avela Cezu, Montoro Monyai

FINAL LOG POSITIONS

1.             Clapham

2.             Louis Botha

3.             Rosina

4.             Harmony

5.             Mondale

6.             Okiep

7.             Benny’s Sports Academy

8.             Cloetesville

9.             Eric Nxumalo

10.          Freedom Park

11.          Rietvale

12.          Executive Academy

13.          FK Tjiane

14.          Ndamase

15.          Sebetwane

16.          Sibongumusa

17.          Welabasha

18.          East High

A Gauteng/Free State Sanlam Kay Motesepe Schools Cup Final

.  It was a day of high’s and low’s for the 18 teams that competed in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup play-offs happening at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, Durban.  For the semi-finalists it was a case of playing for the R1 million or R500 000.  But in the end Clapham (Gauteng) beat the most successful team in the tournament to date, Harmony 3 – 0 and national final first timers, Louis Botha beat Rosina Sedibane 1 – 0, to meet each other in the final match tomorrow.

For Rosina Sedibane, the school that educates the SuperSport United Academy players, the defeat by Louis Botha was a disappointment, but for Harmony, making it to the semi-finals was a great feat.  “My boys did a great job,” said coach, Pitso Mokoena. “This year I brought my U17 team.  None of them have played in this tournament before yet they rose to the occasion and showed character and a fighting spirit.  I am a happy coach.”

Mokoena would like to finish in third position, and win the school R500 000, but his focus is already turning to final exams.  “We will leave Durban with happy memories, but now it is time to study.  I do not want these boys to follow in my footsteps.  I gave us school at 17 years old and joined Free State Stars, seven years later I went to Amazulu, ending at Bloemfontein Celtic. Once my career was over I was unemployed for years until I was offered a job at Harmony.  I then had to complete my matric with the team I was coaching at the time!  I have also gone on to get my SAFA Level 1 coaching certificate.  I have a lot to teach my players both on and off the field.”

Based on statistics, the odds slightly favour Clapham in the final.  Clapham won all their games and scored 23 goals in seven games conceding just one.  Louis Botha drew two of their games and only scored 14 goals conceding two. But there are no guarantees and it will all boil down to who played the best on the day.

Harmony and Rosina Sedibane will play for third and fourth place.

But the biggest low must be the disqualification of East High from Mpumalanga due to fielding an ineligible player.

Tomorrow’s activities will commence at 9am with entertainment by Naima Kay, Professor and Big Nuz followed by the third/fourth play off at 11am.  There will be more entertainment prior to the final which will kick-off at 1pm.  Gates open at 9am and entrance is free.

Results:

QF: Clapham 2 vs Okiep 0

                Goals:  Motoro Monyai, Percy Tau

QF: Harmony 0 vs Benny’s School 0

                Harmony won 15 – 14 on penalties

QF: Louis Botha 1 vs Mondale 1

                Louis  Botha won 3 – 0 on Penalties

                Goals:  LB:  Ernest Mabathoana

                Mon:  Clinton Herwel

QF: Rosina Sedibane 1 vs Cloetesville 0

                Goal:  Sikhabuzo Mazibuko

Pos 9 – 12:  Freedom Park 1 vs Rietvale 1

                Freedom Park won 5 – 4 on penalties

                Goals:  FP:  Thembani Gwala,

                Riet:  Angelo Van Rooi

Pos 9 – 12: Eric Nxumalo 2  vs Executive Academy 0

                Goals:  Funani Mathabela, Sydney Moyane

Pos 13 – 16: Sibongumusa 1  vs FK Tjiane 2

                Goals:  Sib:  Siyanda Ngubane

                FK:  Calvin Mathebe, Dumisane Shongwe

Pos 13 – 16:  Sebetwane 1  vs Ndamase 1

                Ndamande won 3 – 2 on penalties

                Goals:  Seb: Tshepiso Lobelo

                Nda:  Ayakha Stamp

Pos 17 – 18: Welebasha buy (Welebashe finishes in 17^th position)

Pos 5 – 8: Okiep 1  vs Benny’s Sport 1

                Okiep won 5 – 3 on penalties

                Goals:  OK: Romario Waterboer,

                BS:  Lfentshwe Munyadziwa

Pos 5 – 8:Mondale 3  vs Cloetesville 0

                Goals:  Dilan Fransch, Lance Beyers, Brandon Dean

Pos 15 – 16: Sibongumusa 1  vs Sebetwane 1

                Sebetwane won 3 – 1 on penalties

                Goals Sib:Siyanda Ngubane,

                Seb:  Itumeleng Mosikare

Pos 9 – 10:  Freedom Park 0 vs Eric Nxumalo 2

                Goals:  Bonginkosi Mkhabela, Nyiko Phoko

Pos 11 – 12: Rietvale 1 vs Executive Academy 1

                Rietvale won 4 – 2 on penalties

                Goals:  Riet:  Angelo Van Rooi,

                EA: Bonga Klaushe

Pos 13 – 14: FK Tjiane 1 vs Ndamase 0

                Goal:  Dumisani Shongwe

Pos 5 – 6: Okiep 0  vs Mondale 0

                Mondale won 3 – 1 on penalties

Pos 7 – 8:  Cloetesville 0  vs Benny’s Sports 0

                Benny’s won 4 – 2 on penalties

Semifinal: Clapham 3 vs Harmony 0

                Goals: Khyelihle Shozi, Ntando Ngubane (2)

Semifinal: Louis Botha 1 vs Rosina Sedibane 0

                Goal: Aaron Mzethu

FINAL LOG POSITIONS

18.          East High

17.          Welabasha

16.          Sibongumusa

15.          Sebetwane

14.          Ndamase

13.          FK Tjiane

12.          Executive Academy

11.          Rietvale

10.          Freedom Park

9.             Eric Nxumalo

8.             Cloetesville

7.             Benny’s Sports Academy

6.             Okiep

5.         Mondale

Ends.

About the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup:

·       The tournament is run under the auspices of the South Africa Football Association (SASFA)

   Named after prominent businessman Patrice Motsepe’s late mother, the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup offers the biggest prize money at school level in Africa (R3.4 million in total). 

·       The sponsors are:  Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu-Botho Community Development Trust.

·       The primary objective of the tournament is to revive the culture of school football amongst students between the age of 16 and 19 years old.

·       The tournament also gives players the opportunity to showcase their skills to soccer scouts with the talented players being recruited into development structures to be nurtured and shaped into professional players.

Academies have topped the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Final Groups

The final round robin games of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe took place at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, Durban today with Rosina Sedibane, Louis Botha Technical College, and Clapham College topping their group. The play-offs will commence tomorrow.  

For Gauteng’s Rosina Sedibane Modiba Sports School things are going according to plan.  “So far so good,” said coach, Tumelo Molabo, but he warns his team that more goals need to be scored if they wish to progress further. “The team I brought this year is young and inexperienced, but have been playing together for a few years now so know each other well.  I can see them getting more and more confident as the days progress.  We ended our League matches by beating Welebasha (KZN) 5 – 0. The boys have shown a determination to win and they are not scared of any team.” 

Rosina has not lost a game in the national finals to date and have scored 9 goals, conceding one goal against Executive Academy (EC).

The team Rosina is hoping to meet in the tournament is fellow provincial winners, Clapham, who have done exceptionally well this year.  “They beat us in the provincial final, but we are ready to redeem ourselves and they better watch out.  Last year we finished the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup in fourth position and we want to take first position this year,” said Molabo, who admits that the fact that most of the players belong to the SuperSport United Academy also helps.

Key Player for Rosina this year is Thabo Mile, who has scored 2 goals for the school.  The 19 year old Grade 11 pupil has just rejoined the team after suffering a foot injury .  “I thought that I would not be able to adjust after my injury,” said Mile, “but surprisingly I adjusted and am happy with my performance and it proves that I am on form again.”

Mile joined the SuperSport United Academy in 2009 and is grateful for the opportunity offered to him and the time the club and school has spent on him to improve his football as well as help him get a better grasp on life.  “It is amazing how life works.  My father wanted my brother to progress with his soccer career, but he decided he didn’t want to make soccer his life.  My father has since died and I am the one that is progressing in soccer. It is a pity he can’t see me now.”

Gauteng’s Clapham High School finished top of Group B winning all their matches with an impressive 18 goals conceding only one, against rivals, Harmony (Free State).

Newcomers, Louis Botha Technical High School from Bloemfontein, Free State finished top of Group C, winning their final round robin match against Ndamase (EC) 6 – 0, with Boipelo Segwaba scoring 4 goals.  The team managed to knock 12 goals into the net conceding only one.

Fixtures for the third day of play are still to be announced.

Results: East High 0 vs Louis Botha 1

                Goal:  Sizwe Duba

Okiep 1 vs Ndamase 0

                Goal:  Duncan V.D. Heever

Eric Nxumalo 3 vs Benny’s Sport Academy 2

                Goals:  EN:  Sydney Moyane, Adriot Mathebula, Silence Mashaba

                BC:  Alton Kapinga (2)

Mondale 1  vs  Cloetesville 1

                Goals:  Mon:  Dean Brandon (Kyle wheeler sent off for foul in penalty box)

                Cloet:  Curvin Williams

Welabasha 0  vs Sibongumusa1

                Goal:  Sihle Ndlovu

Executive Academy 1 vs Rosina Sedibane 1

                Goals:  EA: Zolani Malahla

                RS:  Skhumbuzo Mazibuko

Clapham 1 v Harmony 0

                Goal:  Khayelihle Shozi

Rietvale 0 v Freedom Park 1

                Goal: Bakang Monchwe

Sebetwane 0 v FK Tjiane 2

                Goals:  Dumisani Shongwe, Raymond Moroko

Benny’s Sport 1 v Okiep 0

                Goal:  Duncan VD Heever

Louis Botha 4 v Eric Nxumalo 0

                Goals:  Biopelo Segwaba, Aaron Mzethu, George Mlalele, Ernest Mabathoana

East High 6 v Ndamase 0

                Goals:  Muzi Thabotha (2), Siyabonga Sibiya (3), Bojosi Manjoe

Welabasha 0 v Rosina Sedibane 5

                Goals:  Lucky Gilbert, Zama Rambuwane, Thabo Mile, Sifiso Nkosi, Kwanele Zulu

Executive Academy 0 v Mondale 2

                Goals:  Dillan Fransch (2)

Cloetesville 2 v Sibongemusa 1

                Goals:  Cloet:  Regan Rhode, Wandile Yapi

                Sib: Sbonelo Sibiya

Rietvale 2 v FK Tjiane 1

                Goals:  Riet:  Horatio Mokwane, Maxwell Maarman

                Tj:  Obrey Mokwana

Sebetwane 0  v Clapham 1

                Goal:  Percy Tau

Harmony 1 v Freedom Park 0

                Goal:  Reginald Tsoela

Louis Botha 6 v Ndamase 0

                Goals:  Boipelo Segwaba (4), Ernest Mabathoana, Phatsimo Litseho

East High 3  v Benny’s Sport1

                Goals:  EH:  Siyabonga Sibiya (2), Thembumenzi Ngomane,

                BS:  Eethe Khaukanani

Okiep 3 v Eric Nxumalo 2

                Goals:  OK: Gian De Jongh, Duncan VD Heever (2)

                EN:  Fumani Mathebula, Sydney Moyane

About the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup:

·       The tournament is run under the auspices of the South Africa Football Association (SASFA)

   Named after prominent businessman Patrice Motsepe’s late mother, the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup offers the biggest prize money at school level in Africa (R3.4 million in total). 

·       The sponsors are:  Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu-Botho Community Development Trust.

·       The primary objective of the tournament is to revive the culture of school football amongst students between the age of 16 and 19 years old.

·       The tournament also gives players the opportunity to showcase their skills to soccer scouts with the talented players being recruited into development structures to be nurtured and shaped into professional players.