MPUMALANGA SCHOOL WINS R100 000 AND IS A STEP CLOSER TO WINNING THE R1 MILLION

East High College of Excellence and Lindile Secondary School will represent Mpumalanga Province in the 2012 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Finals in Bloemfontein from October 2 to 6.

In accordance to the rules of the game, both teams that reach the provincial finals go on to the nationals and East High beat Lindile 3-2 in the Mpumalanga provincial Final that took place in Witbank this past weekend. As provincial champions, East High College receives R100 000 in prize money to be used to fund legacy projects that will benefit the school and the community for years to come.

East High College of Excellence is attached to an Academy in Nelspruit and has been operating since 2010. Of the 60 players in the Academy, 20 played in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup this year. Of those, four played in the competition last year.

The school has played in five Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup tournaments reaching the provincial finals twice but were knocked out in the semifinals last year.  Coach Bhuti Petros Ndhlovu has been in charge of the team since 2008 and says he is satisfied with the team’s performance as they stick to the game plan which was to keep it simple. “There is no time for fancy and entertaining football at cup games because the aim is to win and go to the next stage,” he said.

Ndlovu says he is grateful to the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup for the contribution they are making to the school. “With the prize money we will have our field renovated and buy quality boots for the players,” he said.

Ndlovu believes his goalkeeper, Ludick Mkhatshwa as well as captain and midfielder Lebohang Maphanga and other midfielder,  Thabang Klaaf will be key players at the National finals.“Lebohang is great leader and a good team motivator. He was part of the team that played in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup last year and he plays in the Second Division League for Phiva Young Stars,” Ndhlovu adds.

Maphanga will be playing his best at the National Finals.  “My dream is to play in a PSL Club and I know that there will be many scouts at the National Finals, particularly Mamelodi Sundowns.”

Sanlam Sky Solutions Branch Manager in Witbank, Daniel Thabo Phiri says: “Sanlam 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 provides exposure to scouts for talented players.

RESULTS

SEMI - FINALS

East High College of Excellence 1 VS Soshangana Secondary School 0

Lindile Secondary School 2 vs Zachelus Malaza Secondary School 1

3^rd & 4^th PLACE

Zachelus Malaza Secondary School 3 VS Soshangana Secondary School 2

Final

East High College of Excellence 3  Lindile Secondary School 2

SUNDOWNS SIGNS ANOTHER SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP YOUNGSTER TO BOOST THEIR YOUTH ACADEMY

The Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup is without doubt a stepping stone for teenagers between the ages of 15 and 19 towards  playing professional soccer, even represent Bafana Bafana.  One such youngster identified during the 2011 tournament, Midfielder from Gamolapo, Limpopo, Godfrey Mako, has joined the Mamelodi Sundowns Academy and is destined to become a household name.  He joins another player, Franco Haai, also identified during the 2011 tournament.

Mako, or ‘Computer’ as he is referred to by his peers, was born in Zebediela village in Limpopo on 1 April 1994. He started showing extraordinary skills at the age of nine.  He recalls:  “A fight broke out in the play ground between my friends who all wanted me in their team during break.  We were caught and spent two days in detention.  On the third day the principal told me to report to practise as he wanted to see what all the commotion was about. The coach, Mr Maluleke really liked the way I played and I became a permanent member of the team.”

In 2007 Mako joined the local amateur team, Amadlugdlug.  He was younger than his team mates which resulted in him sitting on the bench for a year which frustrated him immensely. 

Then everything changed when he moved to Mafsiakgomo High School and became the star of the school team.  “I suppose I can attribute my improved skills to my previous club.  I might not have got much match practise, but I sure learnt a lot during practise sessions,” said Mako

Frank Louw, Sponsorship Manager, Sanlam Group Marketing explains the tournament vision and why players like Mako are an inspiration to the company:  “Sanlam understands the value of development and the importance of realising what one hopes for. We believe that the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup creates opportunities that have a positive impact on the youth and also provides exposure to scouts for these talented youngsters.”

The educational part of the Sundowns opportunity also excited young Mako:  “Sundowns has enrolled me in a private school in Pretoria, Clapham College, which I am really happy about.  My plan is to work hard to obtain good marks that will qualify me for a bursary to University where I want to study electrical engineering.  Football will be a priority as I really want to play professionally, but I plan to get a good education and study further as well.” Mako has had a difficult youth living with his grandparents and four cousins after his mother died when he was nine.   

The Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup is an annual football tournament for youngsters between the ages of 15 and 19 and is open to every school in South Africa.  Registration is now open for 2012 and players could well find a Mamelodi Sundowns scout at one of their games as the Club is on a continuous quest in search for talent.  Then there is the R1 million on offer to the team that finishes in first place, money that every school wants to upgrade school facilities and give the pupils added reason to do well.

To register to compete in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, please contact Mr Nelson Belebesi of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) 011 567 2824 or Mr Frank Louw of Sanlam on 021 947 2093. Registration closes on 9 March, 2012.

 

Winners’ prize money:

1^st Place R1 000 000

2^nd Place R600 000
3^rd Place R500 000
4^th Place R400 000
9 x provincial winners R100 000 each

FREE STATE SCHOOLS BATTLE IT OUT TO REPRESENT THE REGION IN THE SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP PROVINCIAL FINALS!

All six Free State Regions will be staging their Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup Regional Finals on the 07 May, to establish who will represent each region in the Provincial Finals on the 14 May at the Parys Sports Field.

A win for Harmony High School, a soccer academy representing Lejweleputswa Region, will put them into the Provincial Finals for the fifth year in succession. They have progressed to the National finals every time, being crowned champions in 2007, finishing in third place in 2008 and 2009 and second in 2010.

The Virginia team is currently at the top of their regional league and coach Pitso Mokoena said that it is not going to be an easy task for his team this year after four of their key players were snapped up by Mamelodi Sundowns and Bloemfontein Celtic at the end of last year, after having been spotted at the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup.

“I started at a slower pace this season as I have seven new players who need to get used to our systems and playing with the rest of the team,” said Mokoena. “I do not want to put pressure on the boys yet as I just want them to enjoy playing in the team.  We have a long way to go before the Provincial finals and I will step up the pace as we go along as I would like to improve on our second place finish last season.” 

Meanwhile, Ntsu High School from Thabo Mofutsanyana Region is doing well so far this season, having comfortably won their four Regional matches so far. These third-time participants in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup beat L K Ntelabathi Intermediate School 8 - 0, Witterburg Hoërskool 9-1, Thabo Thokoza Secondary School 6 - 2 and Moriting Wa Thuto High School 4 – 0, to book their place in the Regional Finals.

Team Coach, Michael Masooa, is pleased with his team’s success to date:  “We look at the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup as the tournament we want to win every year.  We are now through to the Regional Finals and the boys are well organised and confident but the battle is not yet won and there is still a lot to be done in terms of mental and physical preparations. We are looking forward to the challenge and are pretty confident that we will make it to the National Finals for the fourth time.”

Three of Ntsu’s players joined PSL’s Free State Stars development academy six months ago, which has further helped the school on their road to success. “Joining Free State Stars is a great opportunity for me,” said midfielder, Nkululeko Jele. “Although I haven’t been there long, I have learnt a lot and I am hoping this knowledge will guide me and the rest of the team in the Regional Finals. I would like our team to do well and do the school proud.  I have enjoyed my time at school and would like to go down in the history of the school as a high achiever on the football field. 

Jele adds with caution: “Although we have done well thus far I will not be complacent and will treat all opponents with respect as it is not over till we have the trophy in the cabinet. However, I do believe we have a better than average chance of getting into the National finals.”

17 year-old Jele cites teammates, right-wing Hadio Nhlapho and captain, Sethoa Mofokeng as key players: “Both players were with the team last year, they know the kind of challenges we will be facing so their advice is invaluable to the team.”

However, a school that has the potential to upstage all others and go all the way to the Finals is sports academy HTS Louis Botha from Bloemfontein (Motheo Region).   

HTS Louis Botha was established in 1878 as a sports academy producing stars such as Alan Donald (Cricket), AJ Venter (Rugby) and Kagiso Kumbane (Olympic athlete). While the school has not been particularly strong in football, this situation is changing rapidly and 2011 is proving a very successful year already.

One of their key players is goalkeeper, Sizwe Ngoma. This youngster was contracted to Sundowns last year but the school the Club selected for the youngster this year is unable to provide the subjects he needs to study engineering so he was released from his contract, returning to HTS Louis Botha. This is a youngster with huge potential and he should become a Bafana player within the next couple of years.

The winning school gets R1 million, runners-up R700 000, third prize is R500 000 and the school finishing in fourth place receives R400 000. This prize money excludes the R100 000 that each Provincial winner gets. No prize money is handed over to the school in cash but is spent on legacy projects identified by each school. The schools that finish in first and second place in the Provincial Finals both go through to compete in the National Finals.

“The Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup falls within our corporate social responsibility programme,” said Frank Louw, Sponsorship Manager, Sanlam Group Marketing. “While we see it as contributing to the development of South African football at school level, we also use the opportunity to reach as many youngsters as possible and promote healthy and productive lifestyles. This is a crucial age as youngsters are about to enter the vital post-school stage of their lives. We will be sending Sanlam representatives to as many games as possible guiding the players and fans on the importance of financial health and planning.”

SA SCHOOLS CAN NOW REGISTER FOR THE SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP

Registration for the 2011 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup has opened. Financial services company Sanlam, the Motsepe Foundation and Ubuntu-Botho are encouraging every school in all nine South African provinces, whether private, independent, township or rural, to register to compete in the 2011 edition of the richest schools’ competition which kicks off in March and in which  any school stands a chance of  winning the grand prize of R1 million.

“One of the key objectives of this sponsorship is to get as many football players as possible between the ages of 15 and 19 to compete and possibly to be seen by soccer scouts. Players who stand out will then be recruited into development structures to be nurtured and shaped into professional footballers,” said Frank Louw, Sanlam Sponsorships Manager. “To be able to achieve this we need to encourage all schools to register no matter where they are situated and they have until 28 February 2011 to do so.”

Being open to all schools makes the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup the biggest schools tournament in the country with the most prize money: R3,4m in total. The winning schools can utilise the money for any development project that enhances or advances the mission and objectives of the school and/or its immediate community, e.g. building of extra classrooms, upgrading the soccer pitch, etc

The Motsepe Foundation endorses the objectives and rationale behind the sponsorship: “Look at our president, Mr Patrice Motsepe,” said Kenneth Makhanya, representative of the Motsepe Foundation and Ubuntu-Botho. “He achieved success by setting goals and working hard to ensure he reached them which often meant sacrifice. The Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup was initiated by Mr Motsepe through the Motsepe Foundation 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 and Sanlam, having the same vision, has created an ideal partnership.”

To register to compete in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup, please contact the South African Schools Football Association on +27 11 567 2010 or Frank Louw at Sanlam on +27 21 947 2093 before 28 February 2011.

Winners’ prize money:

1^st Place R1 000 000

2^nd Place R600 000

3^rd Place R500 000

4^th Place R400 000

9 x provincial winners R100 000 each