DANONE NATIONS CUP - FREE STATE PROVINCIAL FINALS

Eight years ago a young footballer from the Free State, Kamohelo Mokotjo, captained the South African Under 12 team to victory against Portugal in the 2003 Danone Nations Cup World Finals held in France.   Mokotjo became a local hero and has since been an inspiration to many young footballers who have competed in the tournament. This is the type of enthusiasm that will unfold at the Clive Solomon Stadium in Bloemfontein this weekend, 14^th May, when the Under 12 Free State teams compete in the Danone Nations Cup Provincial finals.  Games start at 9am.

Mokotjo believed in his dreams and has gone on to become a profession footballer.  The now 20 years old has 9 caps with the National Under 20 team and 5 with the Under 23 National team and is currently playing his club football at Feyenoord Rotterdam in Holland. Free State is known for having built a number of sports academies and many of the professionals that have entered the Premier Soccer League have their origins in the Province so this weekend is sure to turn up some fine football.

Among those who are hoping to walk in Mokotjo’s footsteps is Vuyile Matiya.  The 11 year old aspirant footballer will captain the team that will be competing in the tournament for the first time, Katoloso Primary School from Lejweleputswa region.  Just like Mokotjo, his dream is to be a professional footballer one day and has singled out Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper, Itumeleng  Khune as his personal hero. “My uncle once told me that Khune used to play soccer in dusty streets just like me.  I look up to him a lot and he is my motivation to become a goalkeeper like him.”

Matiya has the responsibility of being the team’s last line of defence and will wear the number 1 jersey. He hopes for his team to do well and on a personal note he wants to make a difference to the success of the team.  “But most of all I am going to enjoy every game I play on Saturday.”

“We use the Danone Nations Cup as a platform to encourage youngsters to believe in their dreams, develop healthy lifestyles and above all to have fun,” says Sandra Dorville, Communications Manager Danone Southern Africa. “The tournament is built on clearly defined pillars namely humanism, openness, proximity and enthusiasm.  All the children that participate in the tournament around the world are just starting their journey through life and Danone would like to play a role in helping mould them for future success.”

Other teams that will be participating in the Free State event include third time Provincial champions Mofulatshepe Primary School from Xhariep Region. The reigning champions will be wanting to retain their reign but have tough competition in the form of  Zamaleka Primary School (Fezile Dabi), Letotolo Public School (Thabo Mufutsanyane) and Relebeletse Public School (Motheo). The schools will compete in one Group in a round robin tournament with the top teams going on to play in the final.

 

The Provincial winner will join Robanyane Primary from Northern Cape, Kgwahlele Primary (Limpopo), Nosizwe Primary (North West), Mhlahle Primary (Mpumalanga), Ndongeni Primary(KZN), in the National finals happening at Eldorado Park on 9 July.  The National champion will then represent South Africa in the 2011 Danone Nations Cup World Finals taking place in Madrid, Spain in October.  In attendance will be International ambassador, Zinadine Zidane.

SURPRISE WINS IN THE DANONE NATIONS CUP PROVINCIAL FINALS IN KZN AND NORTHERN CAPE

Ndogeni Primary School from KwaZulu Natal and Robanyane Primary from the Northern Cape each won their Provincial finals on Saturday, 7 May 2011 and are now through to the Danone Nations Cup National Finals taking place at the Eldorado Stadium in Eldorado Park, Gauteng on 9 July 2011.

“I must commend Ndogeni Primary for a fine performance,” said ex Bafana Bafana captain and Danone Nations Cup ambassador, Neil Tovey who attended the KwaZulu Natal Provincial finals.  “The school has a number of exceptionally talented players however they played individualistic football as opposed to playing as a team.  I spoke to them after the game about this.  Football is a team sport and when they compete against other teams that pass to team mates effectively they will be beaten.”

Ndongeni Primary School comes from the Umlazi Region and they beat Ezamukuthula Primary School from Uthugela region 3 – 0 to be crowed the Provincial champions. The finals took place at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi.

On the same day the Northern Cape also held their Danone Nations Cup Provincial Finals.   Robanyane Primary from the John Taole region earned a spot in the National Finals after beating Kgabang Primary School from Francis Baard 3 – 0 on penalties in the final game.  The full time score was 0 – 0. The finals took place at the Kimberly Technical High stadium.

“This is exciting as it is our first appearance in the Danone Nations Cup,” said Robanyane Primary’s Coach, Elias Moipone, “We came here prepared and were match fit to face any opponent.” Founded only three years ago , Moipone said that it has been the school Principal’s dream to see his boys participating in the Danone Nations Cup, however before this year they didn’t have the facilities nor enough players to have taken part. “These are the players I started training from Grade 3 when they first got to the school. This tournament introduced them to their first official match. We are very far from other Primary schools and it has been a difficult task to organise friendly games to get match practise which makes this win even more exciting.”

Other teams that have been guaranteed a place in the National finals are Kgwahlele Primary (Limpopo), Mhlahle Primary  School (Mpumalanga)and  Nosizwe Primary School (North West).

Free State is the next Province to host their Provincial finals happening at the Clive Solomon Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday, 14 April from 9am.

The 2011 Danone Nations Cup champions will then to go Madrid, Spain in October to compete in the World Finals against 39 other Nations.

RESULTS – NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCIAL FINALS

SIMBRUNER PRIMARY SCHOOL (Siyanda Region)

KGABANG PRIMARY SCHOOL (Francis Baard Region)

ROBANYANE PRIMARY SCHOOL (John Taole Region)

VAN RENSBURG PRIMARY SCHOOL (Pixley Kasime Region)
BUFFELS RIVIER PRIMARY SCHOOL (Namaqualand Region)

Van Rensburg Primary School 1 vs Buffels River Primary School 0

Robanyane Primary School 0 (2) vs Kgabang Primary School 0 (3)

Simbruner Primary School 0 vs Van Rensburg Primary School 1

Buffels River Primary School  0 vs Robanyane Primary School 4

Kgabang Primary School 2 vs  Simbruner  Primary School 0

Van Rensburg Primary School 0 vs Robanyane Primary School 1

Buffels River Primary School 0 vs Kgabang Primary School 2

Robanyane Primary School 1(2) vs Simbruner Primary School 1(3)

Kgabang Primary School 2 vs Van Rensburg Primary School 0

Simbruner Primary School 2 vs Buffels River Primary School 0

FINAL LOG POSTION

1^st – Kgabang Primary School – 10 pts

2^nd – Robanyane Primary School – 4 pts

3^rd – Van Rensburg Primary School – 3 pts

4^th – Buffels Rivier Primary School – 1 pts

FINAL

Kgabang Primary School 0 (2) vs.  Robanyane Primary School 0 (3)

DANONE NATIONS CUP – 2011 NORTHERN CAPE PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONS –  Robanyane Primary School

RESULTS – KWAZULU NATAL

OHLONGENI PRIMARY SCHOOL (Ugu Region)

EZAMUKUTHULA PRIMARY SCHOOL (UThukela Region)

SURYAVILLE PRIMARY SCHOOL (Amajuba Region)

EMPHATHE PRIMARY SCHOOL (UMzinyathi Region)

NEW GEULERLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL (ILembe Region)

NDONGENI PRIMARY SCHOOL (Umlazi Region)

TAYLORS PRIMARY SCHOOL (UMgungundlovu Region)

OPHUZANE PRIMARY SCHOOL (Vryheid Region)

MTHWAZI PRIMARY SCHOOL (Ubombo Region)

NDABAYAKHE PRIMARY SCHOOL (Empangeni Region)

FIELD A

Ndongeni Primary School 3 vs Taylors Primary School 1

Ophuzane Primary School 0 (4) vs Mthwazi Primary School 0 (5)

Ndabayakhe Primary School 0 vs Ndongeni Primary School  1

Taylors Primary School 0 (3) vs Ophuzane Primary School 0 (2)

Mthwazi Primary School 0 vs  Ndabayakhe Primary School 2

Ndongeni Primary School 2 vs OphuzanePrimary School 0

Taylors Primary School 0 (2) vs Mthwazi Primary School 0 (3)

Ophuzane Primary School 0 vs Ndabayakhe Primary School 2

Mthwazi Primary School 0 vs Ndongeni Primary School 2

Ndabayakhe Primary School 0 vs Taylors Primary School 0

FIELD B

Ezamukuthula Primary School 0 vs Ohlongeni Primary School 1

Suryaville Primary School 2 vs Emphathe Primary School 0

New Geulerland Primary School 0 vs Ezamukuthula Primary School 1

Ohlongeni Primary School 1 vs Suryaville Primary School 0

Empathe Primary School 0 vs New Guelerland Primary School 2

Ezamukuthula Primary School 1 vs Suryaville Primary School 0

Ohlongeni  Primary School 1 (2) vs Empathe Primary School 1 (0)

Suryaville Primary School 1 vs New Geulerland Primary School 3

Empathe Primary School 0 vs Ezamukuthula Primary School 3

New Geulerland Primary 0 (1) vs Ohlongeni Primary School 0 (3)

FINAL

Ndongeni  Primary School 3 vs.  Ezamukuthula Primary School 0

DANONE NATIONS CUP – 2011 KWAZULU NATAL PROVINCIAL CHAMPIONS –  Ndongeni Primary School.

2011 KZN NEIL PRIZE GIVING picture by Canon

DNC - 2011 KZN WINNERS - Ndogeni Primary School CELEBRATION picture by Canon

Ndogeni Primary School picture by Canon

Ndgeni Primary School picture by Canon

COPA COCA-COLA FOOTBALL REGIONAL FINALS KICK-OFF

The Copa Coca-Cola soccer tournament is now well underway with six Regions hosting games this past weekend, 19 February 2011. Hillview High School hosted the Tshwane West finals with winners, Central High school, boosted by the inclusion of Sundowns FC development players who are students at the school, booking a berth in the Gauteng Provincial Finals scheduled for KwaThema Sports Stadium on Saturday, 5^th March, kick-off at 9am.

Central High School was unbeatable and also took home the individual awards: Top Goal Scorer and Best Player, as a result of striker, Khanyelihle Shozi scoring six goals in total.

Ten schools participated in the tournament which was divided into two pools and played on a knockout basis. Central’s’ first game against Winterveld High School resulted in a 10 – 0 drubbing. Central then went on to beat host, Hillview, 3 – 0 to book their place in the final against Rantailane High School, which they won 10 – 0. 

Shozi could not contain his excitement on his team’s success: “We came to the finals with the aim of winning and proceeding to the next stage of Copa Coca-Cola. Our coach, Chaya Peter, inspired us to have fun and believe in ourselves.  He told us before the tournament that we could win by 10 goals, which we did - twice. It was awesome.” 

The young player, who started his career at Mabhuti Khanyeza’s club, Rockers FC in 2002 and was recruited into the Sundowns development programme in June 2010.

“The Copa Coca-Cola competition is a great stepping stone for us as young players,” said Shozi. “It is not just one weekend of games, but we play for months, which gives us the opportunity to polish our skills. My favourite player is Christiano Ronaldo, and I aspire to play for Real Madrid one day.”

Coach Chaya Peter was also pleased with his team’s result: “This was a great start to a magnificent tournament. Copa Coca-Cola is definitely an inspiring initiative especially following the Minister of Sports and Recreation’s call for all South Africans to rally around school football. Copa Coca-Cola gives all schools something exciting to look forward to. It is an established tournament and teachers and coaches know that it is for the under 18 ages so we can start building our squads early.  In our case, we started training last year already.”

“Coca-Cola is proud to play a part in developing young talent,” said Anthony Garstang, Brand Experience Manager, Coca-Cola South Africa. “The tournament is well underway now and as a brand, we are obviously looking to build talent for the future, recognising the important part the fans play in building the sport. We have decided to give a free 300ml Coke to everyone who comes to watch games. There also will be a DJ at the games throughout the day. We want the community in all the regions to come and see the future football stars in action.”

RESULTS:

Group A

Kgadime Matsepe 1(4p) vs Pelotona 1(2p)

Winterveld 0 vs Central High School 10

Mabopane High School 0 vs Setlalentoa 2

           

Group B

Hillview 4 vs Suiderberg 2

Holy Trinity 0 vs Rantailane 3

   

Second Round

Kgadime Matsepe 1 vs Rantailane 4

           

Semi Finals

Setlalentoa 0 vs Rantailane: 2

           

Hillview 0 vs Central High School 3

           

 Finals

 Central High School 10 vs Rantailane 0

           

GOAL SCORERS:

TOTAL NUMBER OF GOALS SCORED: 45

Khanyelihle Shozi (Central) 6

Jeremiah Nkwana (Central) 3

Refilwe Mokeretla (Central) 3

Mxolisi Sibanyoni (Central) 3

Siphiwe Khomo (Kgadime) 2

Seun Ledwaba (Central) 2

Roscoe Mckenzie (Central) 2

Sfiso Sithole (Rantailane) 2

Tlotlo Lekobu (Rantailane) 2

Katlego Namo (Rantailane) 1

Tatedi Magongoa (Rantailane) 1

Botshelo Mfuluane (Rantailane) 1

David Masupha (Rantailane) 1

Moshe Motau (Rantailane) 1

Godfrey Moatshe (Pelotona) 1

Ishmael Mngonyama (Central) 1

Siyabonga Khuzwayo (Central) 1

Percy Tau (Central) 1

Karabo Litabe (Central) 1

Yellow cards and Red cards: 0

Media Enquiries:

Tulisiwe Mkatshwa

Brand PR and Communications Manager

Coca-Cola South Africa

0823771207

On behalf of Coca-Cola

Intune Communications

Pearl Ndlazi

0832321389

The Coca-Cola Company

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