It has been confirmed! The launch match of the
under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup between the reigning champions, Clapham
High School and the 2012 champions, the School of Excellence, both from
Gauteng, has been scheduled as the curtain raiser to the Sundowns vs.
Supersport United PSL match at Loftus on Tuesday, 6 May. The first game
will take place on field B, kick-off at 5.30pm followed by the PSL game at
7.30pm.
Entrance to the curtain raiser is free and Sundowns is
further offering the first 500 fans that arrive at the stadium between 4.30 and
5pm a ticket to the later derby match, but they must be dressed in Sundowns
colours.
The tournament is co-funded by Sanlam, the Motsepe
Foundation and the Sanlam Ubuntu-Botho Community Development Trust and managed
by the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) and the Department of
Basic Education.
The Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup plays an invaluable role
in the development of football in South Africa, providing organised,
competitive competition for the schools involved. It also, through its prize
money, makes a major contribution to community development.
This year, R3,4 million will be paid out to schools, with
the proviso that they use the money to fund educational and community projects
in their areas that will benefit the wider community on a long term basis.
The prize money increased dramatically when Sanlam came on
board five years ago and in that time over R13.6 million has been used
successfully to fund projects such as the drilling of boreholes, building of
classrooms, administration blocks, gyms, soccer fields and other sports facilities,
purchase of transport vehicles including busses and on the education side
computers have been purchased, teaching aids and many more.
The winning school at the national final tournament will
walk away with R1 million. The second, third and fourth placed schools will
receive R600 000, R500 000 and R400 000 respectively. The nine provincial
winners will each receive R100 000 for their efforts.
The highlight of the 10th anniversary of the
tournament is likely to be the on-going rivalry between Clapham High School,
the current champions, the School of Excellence and the most successful team in
the history of the tournament, Harmony High School from Virginia in the Free
State.
The Mamelodi Sundowns Development Academy players are
schooled at Clapham, while The School of Excellence is a sports academy that
has supplied many players to PSL, First division as well as second and third
division clubs over the years.
Mamelodi Sundown’s Percy Tau was part of the Clapham team in
2013 and was named the player of the tournament. After successfully completing
Grade 12 last year, he was incorporated into the Sundowns first team and so far
has come in as a substitute in for matches and has scored 2 goals.
The tournament is named in memory of Kay Motsepe, the mother
of prominent businessman Patrice Motsepe. The aim of the tournament is to
contribute to the development of South African soccer and to nurture future
soccer stars. It strives to unite the country’s youth through the shared love
of the game and to promote football excellence.
Johan van Zyl, Group CEO of Sanlam says the company understands the value of
development and the opportunity it gives youngsters to achieve what they hope
for. “We believe that the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup creates opportunities
that have a positive impact on the youth, and that the tournament provides
exposure to professional scouts for talented players,” he said.
“Importantly, it also contributes to enhanced learning through improved
educational facilities for the benefit of the rest of the pupils in the
participating schools and for the benefit of the broader community.”
Kenneth Makhanya, a representative of the
Motsepe Foundation and Ubuntu Botho Trusts, said the Motsepe Foundation
endorses the objectives and rationale behind the sponsorship. “Our president,
Mr Patrice Motsepe, initiated the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup in memory of his
mother and to recognize the integral role she played in his life – encouraging
him through school, then university and helping him through the dark times as
well. This is what we want for the South African youth. Sanlam share that
vision and it has created an ideal partnership.”
The tournament is organised by the South
African Schools Football Association (Safsa). Their president, Mandla Mazibuko,
said they are very grateful to Sanlam and Mr. Motsepe for their generosity.
“Through this tournament we are able to educate learners through the medium of
sport, and to ensure the future of the game,” he said.
