KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP national finals to take place at the University of Free State in Bloemfontein next week

Unitas Hoërskool of Welkom will be playing in the National Finals of the under-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation and Sanlam, for the third year in a row. The nationals will be played at the University of the Free State in Bloemfontein from September 23^rd to 27^th October.

Their success in the tournament is directly related to their new coach, Pitso Mokoena (ex Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Start player) said manager, Lerato Lephatsa.  “Since Pitso took over the coaching in 2017 we have won the provincial title and the R100 000 in prize money that goes with it.

In 2017 and 2018 they did not progress past the group stage in the National Finals, but they are hoping to do better this time around. The R100 000 won in 2017 was spent on sports equipment for the school and the 2018 prize went towards refurbishment of the school and new tables and chairs.

With this year’s R100 000 they would like to develop another field at the school, for their under-15 and under17 teams. That proposal must still be approved by the school governing body, however.

Lephatsa believes that drawing too many games is why they didn’t progress far in the national finals.  “We never lost a game at the national finals in the past 2 years, but we drew many of them.  I believe our team is very good and if we could just get past the group stage, I feel we could well win the tournament.  I believe we have home ground advantage which is an advantage which we need to capitalise on,” he said.

The boys were given a week off after the Provincial Finals, but it is now back to serious training with the assistance from the local SAFA Free State structures.

There’s not much time left, so the team is going to concentrate on small aspects of the game. “We will focus on scoring goals as we miss too many opportunities,” Lephatsa said. “We also need to work on the boys’ temperament. We don’t want them to get all worked up just because they are at the National Finals.”

The strength of the team is in keeping possession, said Lephatsa. “They move the ball around and look to open up space in the opposition’s defence then try to take advantage of it. That needs patience, and not trying to rush scoring opportunities.”

To qualify for the national finals Unitas played 15 matches, only losing one.

A player to look out for is Sechaba Tsoaela, striker and captain. He is a SA under-20 player who was at the All-African games in Morocco earlier this year. He played in the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup in 2018, so he has a lot of experience at this level.

Central midfielder, Anela Matala is another one to watch. He also went to Morocco with the SA under-20s. He is calm and tries to support his defence and link up with his strikers.

Striker, Nkululeko Shabangu is the team’s playmaker. He is still only 17 and will play again next year. He does not score a lot of goals however he makes up for it by creating a lot of goal scoring opportunities.

Coach Pitso Mokoena has a SAFA level 3 coaching qualification and came to the school from the Harmony Sports Academy. He has added a degree of professionalism to the team, admits Lephatsa.  “The players are disciplined, polite and have pride in what they do.”

Pitso’s training regime is professional with a plan behind every training session. “The players understand the plan and work towards it. The Kay Motsepe Schools Cup It is a wonderful initiative that provides children from disadvantaged backgrounds with an opportunity to pursue their dreams and get exposed to competitive levels of football,” said Lephatsa.

The tournament is run under the auspices of the South African Football Association (SAFA) together with the Department of Basic Education (DBE).  In accordance to the rules of the tournament, provincial winners as well as runners-up from each province will compete in the national finals.

The national finals promise to be spectacular with 18 teams competing for the ultimate prize of R1million, making the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation and Sanlam, the competition with the biggest prize money in Africa at under-19 level.  The runners-up will take home R600 000, third place and fourth place finishers get R500 000 and R400 000 respectively.  On top of this the nine Provincial winners will each receive R100 000.  The winnings are not handed over in cash but spent on legacy projects identified by the winning schools.

PROVINCIAL FINAL WINNERS TO DATE:

PROVINCE/PF VENUE	DATE	WINNERS	REGION
Western Province Gaansbaai	03-Aug-19	WINNER:  John Ramsay High School	Bishop Lavis Cape Town
Western Province Gaansbaai	03-Aug-19	RUNNER-UP:  Beauford West Secondary School	Beaufort West Great Karoo Region
Eastern Cape Queenstown	10-Aug-19	WINNER:  Maria Louw Senior Secondary School (Queenstown)	Queenstown Enoch Mgijima Municipality
Eastern Cape Queenstown	10-Aug-19	RUNNER-UP:   Jojo Senior Secondary	Mount Ayliff Alfred Nzo Municipality
Northern Cape Upington	17-Aug	WINNER:  Okiep HS	Okiep Springbok Municipality
Northern Cape Upington	17-Aug	RUNNER-Up:  Blinkklip HS	Posmasburg ZF Mgcawu Municipality
Limpopo Polokwane	24-Aug-19	WINNER:  Tshikota High School	Tshikota (Louis Trichardt) Vhembe Municipality
Limpopo Polokwane	24-Aug-19	RUNNER-UP: Ditlalemeso Secondary School	Mankweng (Turfloop) Capricorn District
Gauteng Nigel	31-Aug-19	WINNER:  Rosina Sedibane	Laudium, Centurion Tshwane
Gauteng Nigel	31-Aug-19	RUNNER-UP:  Clapham HS	Queenswood, Pretoria Tshwane
KZN DURBAN	7-Sept-19	WINNER:  Dr JL Dube High School	KwaMashu Emlanjeni Durban
KZN DURBAN	7-Sept-19	RUNNER-UP:  Mount Currie Senior Secondary School	Kokstad Harry Gwala District
Mpumalanga Ermelo	14-Sep	WINNER:  Khula Senior Secondary School	Standerton Gert Sibande
Mpumalanga Ermelo	14-Sep	RUNNER-UP:Siphokhule Secondary School	Piet Retief, Ngema Pixley

Eastern Cape Schools are preparing for the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Finals.

The Under-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation and Sanlam, is in full swing with five provincial finals compete. The tournament, which is run under the auspices of the South African Football Association (SAFA) and the Department of Basic Education (DBE), allows both the provincial winner and runner-up the opportunity of winning some of the massive prize money that is on offer at the national final stage, which will be taking place at the University of the Free State between 23rd and 27^th September.

The Eastern Cape provincial finals took place in Queenstown earlier this month with hosts, Maria Louw High School taking top honours and winning the R100 000 prize money.  They will be joined by second place finishers, Jojo Secondary School from Mount Ayliff in the Alfred Nzo Region at the national finals.

Maria Louw deputy principal and coach, Sandile Mata, is happy that his team has progressed to the national finals in their first outing in this prestigious tournament but cautions that it is not going to be an easy ride in the Free State.  “I joined the school in August last year from Lingelihele, where I was principal and coach, and took top provincial honours in this tournament in 2012 and 2014 where we met the likes of Clapham High School and Rosina Sedibane in the nationals.  Both are linked to PSL clubs and they have exceptional talent and experienced coaches and we will be up against them again this year.”  Mata does admit he holds Introductory and Level 1 certificates as well as the FIFA Grass Roots coaching certificate.

Mata has been following the progress of the provincial finals on Facebook and has noted there are many new schools that have qualified this year.  “Over the years we often see the same schools progressing up the ranks and it is good to see some new names there this year.  It makes the nationals more exciting and challenging.  This tournament is also about gaining experience, and watching the national finals is always an eye opener and the coaches from the rural areas pick up new ideas and approaches to the game.”

The main challenge Mata says he is facing is lack of motivation and discipline.  “It is a difficult age as the boys want to have fun, but it takes dedication and hard work to become a professional and some of the key players with immense talent skip training.  I have never had such a talented bunch of players before and all compete for top clubs in the area that play in local leagues.  We have the potential to go far – but they have to be committed.”

There are areas that need to be addressed before the nationals, admits Mata.  “My defence needs more work and we need more commitment from the strikers as we cannot rely on one person alone.  Those are the areas I am looking at improving within the next two weeks.  The Sundowns academy coaches will be at the nationals again and they have already identified two of my players, but it depends on how they play in the nationals as to whether they will be brought up to Joburg next year or not.”

The national finals promise to be spectacular with 18 teams competing for the ultimate prize of R1million, making the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation and Sanlam, the competition with the biggest prize money in Africa at under-19 level.  The runners-up will take home R600 000, third place and fourth place finishers get R500 000 and R400 000 respectively.  On top of this the nine Provincial winners will each receive R100 000.  The winnings are not handed over in cash but spent on legacy projects identified by the winning schools.

PROVINCIAL FINAL WINNERS TO DATE:

PROVINCE/PF VENUE	DATE	WINNERS	REGION
Western Province Gaansbaai	03-Aug-19	WINNER:  John Ramsay High School	Bishop Lavis Cape Town
Western Province Gaansbaai	03-Aug-19	RUNNER-UP:  Beauford West Secondary School	Beaufort West Great Karoo Region
Eastern Cape Queenstown	10-Aug-19	WINNER:  Maria Louw Senior Secondary School (Queenstown)	Queenstown Enoch Mgijima Municipality
Eastern Cape Queenstown	10-Aug-19	RUNNER-UP:   Jojo Senior Secondary	Mount Ayliff Alfred Nzo Municipality
Northern Cape Upington	17-Aug	WINNER:  Okiep HS	Okiep Springbok Municipality
Northern Cape Upington	17-Aug	RUNNER-Up:  Blinkklip HS	Posmasburg ZF Mgcawu Municipality
Limpopo Polokwane	24-Aug-19	WINNER:  Tshikota High School	Tshikota (Louis Trichardt) Vhembe Municipality
Limpopo Polokwane	24-Aug-19	RUNNER-UP: Ditlalemeso Secondary School	Mankweng (Turfloop) Capricorn District
Gauteng Nigel	31-Aug-19	WINNER:  Rosina Sedibane	Laudium, Centurion Tshwane
Gauteng Nigel	31-Aug-19	RUNNER-UP:  Clapham HS	Queenswood, Pretoria Tshwane
KZN DURBAN	7-Sept-19	WINNER:  Dr JL Dube High School	KwaMashu Emlanjeni Durban
KZN DURBAN	7-Sept-19	RUNNER-UP:  Mount Currie Senior Secondary School	Kokstad Harry Gwala District

It's Gauteng against KwaZulu-Natal in the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup final

2013 champions, Clapham High School will play Sukuma Secondary School from KZN in the under-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup national final match on Saturday, 10 October, at the Nike Centre, Soweto, kick-off at 12.30pm.

Sukuma came into the national finals as the dark horses having registered to participate in the tournament for the first time this year. They finished in third spot in Group A and went through to the quarters as one of the lucky losers.  The school then beat HTS Louis Botha in the quarterfinals and Groblershoop from the Northern Cape in the semi-finals.

Clapham meanwhile has not lost a single match at the national finals, drawing one game against Dr Reginald Cingo from the Free State to finish top of Group A.  They played the same school in the quarterfinals managing to defeat them 2 – 0 this time.  The match of the day was the semi-final between Clapham and the SAFA Transnet School of Excellence which Clapham won on penalties.

The third/fourth playoff between the School of Excellence and Groblershoop will kick-off at 10 am tomorrow, Saturday.  This will be followed by a live performance by Mafikizolo and Jankie and the final will kick-off at 12.30pm.  In attendance will be acclaimed businessman, Mr Patrice Motsepe and a couple of ANC ministers.

Clapham will go into the finals as favourites, having won the tournament before (2013) and boosted by the Mamelodi Sundowns development players.  Head coach, Pitso Mosimane, visited the boys to give them a motivational talk and offer encouragement.  But there are no guarantees in football and at the end of the day it is the school that scores the most goals that will win.

Clapham also has in its favour a strong strike force.  Keletso Makgalwa is currently the highest goals corer having netted six times.  Ray-Shaun Modise from Groblershoop is lying second on the table with 5 goals.  Tomorrow will determine who the trophy will go to.

No matter what the outcome tomorrow, all four schools have won money. But how this will be split is still to be determined.  First prize is R1 million, Second, third and fourth prizes are R600 000, R500 000 and R400 000 respectively

Results of the day’s play:

Quarter Finals

HTS Louis Botha 0 (4) vs Sukuma 0 (5)
Excelsior 0 (3) vs Groblershoop 0 (4)

School of Excellence 3 vs Benny's Care 0
Scorers: Gift Khangala (OG), Sabelo Siphamandla, Edwine Sekhwama

Clapham 2 Dr Cingo 0 
Scorers: Mokoena Mbuti (OG), 
Keletso Makgalwa

9-12 position

Sizwakele 0 vs Phangalele 2
Scorer: Mavume Esthu x 2

Desmond Mpilo 0 vs Tshedimosetso 1
Scorers: Lucky Dikgale

17-18 position

Ingabade 0 vs Itshupeng 1
Scorer: Mongale Mosimanegape

13th - 16th position

Mmammoka 0 (4) vs Kriel 0 (5)

Weslaan 2 Walmer 0
Scorer: Breyton Steenkamp x 2

15th - 16th 
Mmammoka 2 vs Walmer 0

Scorers: Morudu Matome, Mashao Katlego

13^th – 14^th

Weslaan 1 vs Kriel 0 (Walkover)

5^th – 8^th

Benny's Care 2 vs Dr Cingo 3
Scorers: Nemazwi Mutshidzi, Munyai Khazwiiti (Benny's Care), Teboho Motsoane, Itumeleng Nkeane x 2 (Dr Cingo)

HTS Louis Botha 1 (4) vs Excelsior 1 (2)
Scorers: Lukhanyiso Sani (HTS), Gary Bailey (Excelsior)

9^th – 10^th

Tshedimosetso 1 vs Phangalele 4
Scorers: Abel Modaikgotla (Tshedimosetso) and Loyiso Mabukela x 2, Siphumao Libala, Soneliso Flephu (Phangalele )

11^th – 12^th

Desmond Mpilo 0 vs Sizwakele 2
Scorers: Thuto Tsotetsi, S'fiso Mthombeni

7^th – 8^th

Excelsior 1 vs Benny's Care 2
Scorers: Grant Cloete (Excelsior), Nemaxwi Mutshidi, Mafichi Personius (Benny's Care)

5^th – 6^th

HTS Louis Botha 1 vs Dr Cingo 2
Scorers: Immanuel Pietersen (HTS), Bongani Sethole, Mbuti Mokoena (Dr Cingo)

Semi Finals

School of Excellence 0 (3) vs Clapham 0 (4)

Groblershoop 1 (6) vs Sukuma 1 (7)

Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Western Cape provincial winners go through to the national finals again

Desmond Mpilo Tutu Secondary School are the Western Cape under-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup provincial soccer champions after beating Excelsior 1-0 in the final at the Nyanga Stadium on the weekend. 

This means they will be going to the national finals of the competition for the second successive year and they get a chance to redeem themselves after they made an early exit at the nationals last year.

The school were the Western Cape provincial runners up, which qualified them for the nationals, but according to the team manager, Xolisa Nzima their lack of experience cost them at that level and they finally finished in 16^th position.

“We were taken by surprise at the nationals last year,” he said.  “The boys did not anticipate how competitive the game was at that level and how fast-paced other schools played soccer.  We saw how much we need to improve if we want to win this tournament, and this year we decided to take what we learnt from last year and come back and redeem ourselves, which is what we have done.”

This year’s team is a combination of old and new players, and Nzima said the older hands have been guiding the young ones.

“They know the ins and outs of this tournament, and are sharing this with the new players. The team has been working very well together and communicating well, on and off the field. They are also more dedicated and focused.  We have a crop of boys that are very talented and they know what they want out of this tournament and they are working towards achieving the goal.”

One thing is for sure, believes Nzima, is that the team will definitely be better prepared.  “We are training at the local gym to build fitness levels, and I have brought in a young assistant coach, Sizwe Jack, who plays for a local team and has been a great help in bringing the team together.”

“Since he took over, we have been qualifying and reaching levels we have never reached before,” Nzima said. “The team is able to relate to him because he’s the same age as them, and the players trust him. He has built a close bond with the team, they respect one another and they get along very well.”

The Western Cape provincials went well, Nzima feels. “Of all the games, I thought that the final game against Excelsior High School was by far the toughest. We managed to beat them, but I think that Excelsior was a much tougher opponent than the rest of the teams.”

As provincial champions, the school has won R100 000 to use to fund projects that will benefit the school and surrounding community. Nzima said they still have to meet to discuss how they will be using it, as there is a lot that needs to be done at the school. He hopes some of the money can be used for sports equipment.

Western Cape Provincial finals results.

Thembalethu 0 vs Beaufort West 2

Ilingelethu 0 vs Qhayiyia 0

Desmond Tutu 1 vs Beaufort West 1

Excelsior 5 vs Qhayiya 0

Desmond Tutu 4 vs Ilingelethu 0

Excelsior 1 vs Beaufort West 0

Beaufort West 2 vs Ilingelethu 0

Final - Excelsior 0 vs Desmond Tutu 1

Platinum Stars Academy Players help Rustenburg school reach the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup North West Provincial Finals

Rustenburg’s Keledi Secondary School has qualified to play in the North West Uunder-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup provincial finals in their first year of entering the competition.

The finals will be held at the Montshiwa Stadium in Mafikeng on Saturday 12^th September and Lawrence Sedumedi, the team’s manager, is confident that they will proceed from there to the national finals in Soweto from 7^th to 10^th October.

Keledi is the school that the players in the Platinum Stars Academy attend and that, according to Sedumedi has made all the difference.

“We have 17 players that are part of the academy, the partnership with Platinum Stars started last year and since then it has been growing tremendously,” he said. “We have Kobamelo Kodisang, an attacking midfielder who has been selected for the under 17 national team that will compete in the under 17 FIFA World Cup coming up between the 17^th October to the 8^th November, and Charles Baloyi an exceptional midfielder who also plays for the under 17 national team.

“We have always been a school that takes sports seriously, but having the backing of Platinum Stars academy has really boosted the schools performance in soccer.”

Sedumedi said that, while he knew about the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup before, his previous teams were not ready for it. “Last year was the first time the players from Platinum Stars joined us.  I didn’t want to put them under pressure so decided I would use the year to build the team. I wanted to enter this tournament with a strong team and I believe that I have one now,” he said.

Last year’s programme included many friendly games as preparation and Sedumedi feels they are ready this year.

“It’s a huge achievement to qualify for the provincials in our first outing in the tournament,” he said. “There are teams that have been playing since the tournament started who have never reached this level.”

The team is a young one, made up mainly of 16 and 17 year-olds, so they will all still be around next year. “I wanted a team that will play for two years for the school, not having to start afresh every year,” Sedumedi said.

The players are experienced as they play for the Platinum Stars Academy in ABC Motsepe League and SAB Castle League. So they are used to the pressure of high level competitions and that should be to their advantage, Sedumedi believes.

“They have excelled so far, but I knew that they would. They have worked very hard preparing for this tournament. We are just waiting for the 12^th September to come so that we take the title, and then focus on the national finals. That’s where we see ourselves, we want to be in the nationals and compete for the national title.”

The teams participating in the provincial finals are:

Hoerskool Zeerust-Ngaka M Molema District

Tshedimosetso Secondary School-Dr Kenneth Kaunda District

Keledi Secondary School-Bojanala District

Ithuteng Secondary School-Dr R Mompati District