Outsiders win the U19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Free State Lejweleputswa district finals

The Lejweleputswa district finals in the under-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, sponsored by the Motsepe Foundation and Sanlam, produced a major surprise over the weekend when the competition’s most successful school, Harmony High of Virginia were eliminated.

They were beaten by Concordia High School of Theunissen, which means that the district will be represented by new school at the Free State provincial finals, and that Harmony will not be at the nationals this year.

Since Sanlam came on board as sponsors in 2010, and the prize money was hiked to a staggering R3.4 million per year, Harmony High has pocketed prize money every year.  They finished first in 2011, second in 2010, in 2012 and 2013 they took fourth position and in 2014 they took fifth position.  They also received the R100 000 prize money as provincial winners in 2010, 2012 and 2014.  In total they pocketed a cool R2.7 million they spent on legacy projects.

But not this year and according to Concordia’s manager/coach, Matlamedi Monapula, bundling them out of the tournament came down to his team having faith in themselves and not being intimidated by Harmony’s reputation.

“They won their 1st game 6-0, so it was natural that our players were worried about them, but I told them that there is no room for intimidation, the Harmony players are boys just like them,” he said. “Besides, they all play in the SAFA second division with their local teams and sometimes they do play against the Harmony players. After we had that pep talk I could see that the players were more confident in themselves and they played brilliantly. We played a fast-paced game so that they weren’t able to keep up with us. It was a pretty intense game, they fought very hard but we fought harder to make sure that we came up out on top.”

The highlight of the regional finals for the coach was beating Harmony. “We have been participating in this tournament for many years now. Last year we were knocked out during the regional finals, we came second in our stream. Each year we come back with a positive attitude ready for action and this year was no different,” he said.

The lead up has been very successful for the school. They have played 13 games now, and have won 11 and drawn 2. “The team has surprised me at how well they have been doing in this tournament,” Monapula said.

Monapula has been coaching since 2007 and believes that pace and stamina are important. “I believe that a team should play a fast-paced game, I want players that can’t be outrun by the opposition,” he said. “Beating Harmony has definitely made me even more confident in my coaching philosophy.”

This year’s team comprises the entire under-17 team with only two players from last year included. “I have been coaching these boys since they were 14 years old so they know each other well and are used to my style of doing things,” he said. “The boys are heading in the right direction and I believe that we will do well at the provincials.”

Now that the other schools see that Lejweleputswa is going to be represented by a different school other than Harmony they might think that they have the provincial title in the bag, Monapula said.

“But that will not be the case; I think that they should see us as stiff competition. We knocked out the most victorious school in this competition that should count for something. It should be a warning to other schools that Concordia High School means business.”

The coach sees HTS Louis Botha as their biggest competition. “I know they last qualified for the provincials in 2013 and finished in second position in the nationals and they are looking for a comeback so I think they might be a problem for us,” he said.

Results of the Lejweleputswa district playoffs:

Harmony 6 vs Monyakeng 0

Leseding 1 vs Aramela 0

Concordia 2 vs Harmony 1

Aramelo 0 vs Tikwana 6

Monyakeng 0 vs Concordia 4

Tikwana 5 vs Leseding 0

Final - Concordia 0  vs Tikwana 0 (Concordia won 4-2 on penalties).

2015 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup games begin in Free State's Virginia Region

Harmony High School of Virginia in the Free State is the most successful team in the history of the under-19 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup competition, sponsored by Sanlam and the Motsepe Foundation having won a staggering R2.7 million over the past 5 years. Since 2010 the school has won the national title, finished second, third and fourth places. 

Only once – in 2013 – were they not Free State provincial champions after being beaten by Bloemfontein’s HTS Louis Botha. 

Their 2015 campaign begins on Saturday 18^th April, on their home field, when the Virginia Cluster games in the Lejweleputswa District will take place with four other teams including:  Marematlou, Mamello, Meloding and Reatlehile High Schools.

Hector Mokhali, Harmony’s team manager, says that although they meet the same schools at cluster level every year, and they have always beaten them, they are not complacent.  “We know that we are the most targeted team in the tournament. All schools want to win and progress through to the next round.  We have to work hard to ensure that we win,” he said.

Mokhali explains that, while they make sure that they don’t put pressure on the team to exceed the previous year’s side, pressure is self-inflicted. “It’s more a case of wanting to prove a point and show to us that they can also win the tournament and play better than the previous teams,” he said.

“I think that having pressure is a good thing for the players because it stops them from becoming complacent and drives them to achieve more.”

The Harmony Sports Academy was established in 2004, Mokhali explained. “We were inspired by the talent that Free State has and we wanted to give the players a chance to be exposed to a higher level of soccer. We are the only Academy in Free State and we source our players all over the province. We hold trials in December and usually look for 14 and 15 year- olds.

“We groom them for 5 years, and after they have completed their Grade 12 they get released from the Academy but we do try and place them with professional teams. Not all of them get to make,” he explains.

Mokhali says the team is ready for the games this week.  “Our advantage is that the players live in the boarding houses and training doesn’t stop when the schools are on holiday. We train every day, coach Pitso Mokoena has been working very hard with the team.  We still have 13 players from last year’s team, so we didn’t bring in a lot of new players. The boys know the mistakes they made during last year’s national finals.”

It’s just the first step and Mokhali said they are looking forward to meeting HTS Louis Botha. “They are a strong team and the one to beat to win the R100 000 provincial winnings again. ”

Registration for the 2015 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup has closed and the 2015 Free State Champions are preparing for their first games.

Registration for the 2015 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup has closed and 2014 Free State champions, and the most successful school in the tournament over the past five years, Harmony High School of Virginia, are hard at work preparing for their opening cluster level matches, and determined to represent the province at the national finals once again this year.

Harmony coach, Pitso Mokoena, has been with the school since 2008 and has guided them to two national titles – in 2008 and 2011. He sees that 2008 victory as his greatest achievement. He didn’t have a lot of time to prepare that year and injuries meant that they played in the national finals with just 12 players in the squad.

“Winning the 2011 Kay Motsepe Schools Cup was easier” he said. “I think that the 2011 team was the best team I have coached. They were talented and they made my job very easy.”

This year Harmony will play with a completely new team.  The entire under-17 team that won a key knockout tournament in 2014 and also participated in the SAB Regional League has been promoted and they will join seven of last year’s under-19 players.

“All are currently training together, but we will select the best players for the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup and it does not necessarily have to include last year’s players,” he said.

“We also compete in open tournaments and leagues to give the players experience with teams other than schools as they grow and learn this way.”

In the cluster phase of the Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, the team will be playing against local schools, but Mokoena said they will not underestimate them. “Every year teams grow, they have new talented players and there’s no guarantee that Harmony will win every year.

“But we try to be optimistic,” he said.  “We have always represented Free State in this tournament and we know that other schools in Free Sate are gunning for the title and are working hard to make sure that they get that title, we don’t take competition lightly. Local rivals HTS Louis Botha are a very strong team and they are the team that could well give us a challenge. In 2013 they took the provincial title away from us for the first time and they will be a threat again this year.”

Mokoena’s coaching philosophy is based on hard work and a good relationship with his players. “Soccer is an ever-evolving sport and as a coach you need to develop your skills by attending coaching clinics, getting more qualifications and equipping yourself with what’s current,” he says.

“You also have to be a father figure to the players. You need to build and maintain relationships with all your players. You need to be open to being a father/mentor to them, so that they can be open to you in return.”

For Mokoena the biggest challenge is having to deal with the players’ attitudes. “You sometimes have players that think that they are the best thing that has happened to the team; they tend to be egotistical. As a coach you need to be able to bring down those egos. I try to make it a team problem which needs to be resolved as a team.”

As for his own future, Mokoena believes the nexst step is coaching PSL teams. “I look up to the likes of Rulani Mokoena (former coach of Mamelodi Sundowns Academy), he started with the junior team and he is now the assistant coach for Mamelodi Sundowns first team. That’s my next step, I want to start with a developing team in the PSL and take it to greater heights. I give myself plus minus 3 years to reach that level.”

Before then, there are those cluster games, beginning on 18 April with their first opponent being Marematlou Secondary School.

“I believe that giving praise to a player or a team inspires them to be better next time; I always congratulate a player if they played a good game. In that way I build their self-esteem and empower them to do better next time, that’s how I inspire my players for the challenges that lie ahead,” Mokoena concluded.

Harmony High School Do It Again

Harmony High School of Virginia continued their remarkable record of success in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup competition by winning the Free State provincial title in Bloemfontein last weekend after beating Tlokola Secondary School 1 – 0 in the final. 

The school is the most successful in the history of the competition, already winning am impressive R2.6 million, and this win means they get an additional R100 000 - and a chance to add to the impressive amount at the national finals. 

The school has used a large portion of the past winnings to purchase a fleet of busses to transport its learners and, according to coach Hector Mokhali, they will use the R100 000 as Free State champions to purchase more vehicles to help ease the transport problems the school faces due to its growing numbers.

The school missed out on winning the provincials in 2013 as they had brought in a young team in preparation for this year.  “We did not expect to win last year as our team was young and inexperienced, but this year is a completely different story,” he said.

“We have worked very hard at training. We have a very dedicated team and a coach, Pisto Mokoena, who strives for success. This year we reached the provincial finals only conceding 2 goals; one during the cluster level games and the other during the provincial finals; that certainly shows that our defence is a force to be reckoned with. We have not lost a single game this year in this tournament, and we have played 8 games leading up to the provincials”

Mokhali didn't think the standard at the provincial finals was as high as it was last year. “This year four of the six schools were competing in the provincials for the first time which was a huge advantage for us veterans of this tournament.”

Preparations for the national finals have now begun and the plan is to focus on one game at a time. “We will be playing against competitive schools that want to win the national title too.” Mokhali believes Gauteng’s  Holy Trinity High School, the Supersport Academy’s school will be their toughest competition. “But we have more experience than them so hopefully that will count for us,” he said.

Results

Stream A                                                                                            

Tlokola Secondary 1 RT Mokgopa 1

RT Mokgopa 2 vs Relebohile Sibulele Secondary 0

Tlokola Secondary 3  Relebohile Sibulele Secondary 0  

                                                                                   

Stream B

Thabang Secondary School 0 Metsimaphodi High 0

Metsimaphodi High 0 Harmony High School 2

Thabang Secondary School 1  vs Harmony High School 3

Final

Tlokola Secondary School 0 Harmony High School 1

Harmony High School gets through to the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup

Harmony High School, the most successful school in the history of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup are safely through to the Free State provincial finals of the competition and will be competing for the title, and the R100 000 in funding for legacy projects, and the right to play in the national finals that goes with it.

The Virginia school will meet the five other district winners in the playoffs, at Grey College in Bloemfontein on Saturday 23^rd August.

Harmony has religiously competed in the tournament since its inception and Hector Mokhali, the manager of the 2014 team, says the success of the soccer team is something the school and the community is proud of and they want to continue that tradition.

“Last year the team took a knock and we didn’t take first position in the provincials, but this year we are going to change that,” he said. “We are ready to compete and meet up again with HTS Louis Botha who beat us last year. We want to take back what rightfully belongs to us, which is the provincial title.”

Mokhali explained that their 2013 team was made up of under-17 players that participated in the tournament for the first time, so they were inexperienced. “We have that same team from last year, they are more qualified to compete and have learnt from their past mistakes,” he said.

Mokhali gives the credit for the schools consistence in the competition to the coach, Pitso Mokoena. “He has been a great asset to the school and the soccer department,” he said. “His expertise has made a huge difference. He is a great influence on the players and they all look up to him.”

The biggest improvement in the team this year has been in their finishing. “Our strikers are now more alert and they use every chance that they get to score goals,” Mokhali said. “When we played against Marematlou high school in a zone game we beat them 11-0, showing that the team is now more aware of the field and how to use it to their advantage.”

The defence is also a lot tighter this year, shown by the fact that in the 11 games they have played to date, they have only conceded one goal. “We just need to keep cool and continue with this momentum and there is no doubt that we are going to win the provincials and do well at the nationals,” Mokhali said.

As far as individual players are concerned, Mokhali is very impressed with 17 year-old midfielder Tebogo Mokoena. “He came up from our under 16 division.  This is his first Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup experience, but I know he will be a force to be reckoned with.  Last year he was the under 16 top goalscorer.”

This year, Teboga has already scored 10 goals and Mokhali is confident that that number will grow. “He is a very talented boy.  We had a scout from UK club Bolton Wanders here last year and they have invited him to attend trials at the club in October this year.”

The teams participating in the Free State provincial finals are:

·         Harmony High School-Lejweleputswa District

·         Relebohile Sibulele Secondary School-Xhariep District

·         Tlokola Secondary School-Thabo Mofutsanyane District

·         Mestimaphodi Secondary School  –Motheo District

·         RT Mokgopa High School -Motheo District

·         Thabang Secondary School -Fezile Dabi District

Harmony on track for another successful Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup season

The most successful school in the history of the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, Harmony High School of Virginia in the Northern Free State, is on track to extend their winning record when they advanced to the regional finals of the Free State Lejweputswa District.

Harmony won the national title in 2011 finished in second place in 2010 and third and fourth place respectively in 2012 and 2013, winning a total of R2.6 million.

They will meet five other cluster winners in the regional finals on 9^th August at Hoopstad Stadium , with the winners there going through to the Free State inter-district playoffs.

Last year’s Harmony side was almost entirely made up of under-17 players and they used the competition as a learning experience, says Pitso Mokoena, the team coach. There are nine of those players back this year and he is confident that they will go all the way this year.

“We have played 7 intense and challenging games so far to reach the regional finals,” Mokoena said. “I think that the cluster stage has become more competitive over the years, more and more schools are getting experienced and are hungry for this competition. We played against Letsete Secondary School and I was impressed, we beat them 1-0, and that school has a lot of talented players, I wouldn’t be surprised if next year Letsete beats us in this tournament.”

Making the semi-finals at the nationals last year was a great achievement, Mokoena said. “I didn’t even expect that they would even qualify for the nationals. Now the players are more experienced in the tournament, I am confident that we will do well.”

Mokoena is proud to have been part of Harmony’s success over the years. “We strive for success in everything that we participate in, I am a disciplined coach and I expect my players to be disciplined and have respect at all times. We have that understanding and I think that is what sets us apart from the rest of the schools,” he said.

Mokoena said he has one extraordinary player this year, 17 year old Tebogo Mokoena, an attacking-midfielder.   “He joined us this year and he has adjusted very well with the team and I know that he will be a favourite with scouts at the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup,” Mokoena said.

“Last year, 3 players: Kabelo Mabesa (defender), Mandla Masangane (defender) and Victor Noosi (mid fielder) were chosen to attend the Sundowns Development Academy Camp, and although they wern’t selected to be part of the Sundowns Academy, they learnt a lot and their eyes were opened as to what the future may hold for them. They are all part of this year’s team and they are hungry to win this tournament and make Harmony High School proud.”

The participating schools are:

Matjhabeng Cluster –Harmony High School

Matjhabeng Cluster-Letsete Secondary School

Tokologo Cluster-TBC

Masilonyana Cluster-TBC

Tswelopele Cluster-TBC

Nala Cluster – TBC

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.

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.

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.

Clapham, assisted by Sundowns and the Sono Family, make waves at the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National finals

The school that has made the biggest impression on the first day of the U-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools cup, happening at the King Zwelithini Stadium, Umlazi, Durban, is Clapham College from Pretoria.  The school, that educates the youngsters from the Mamelodi Sundowns Football Academy, won their first game against FK Tijiane from Limpopo 9 – 1, then 6 - 0 against Rietvale from the Northern Cape ending the day with a 1 – 0 win against Freedom Park to top Group B.

Besides the support of Mamelodi Sundowns, the team is coached by Rhulani Mokwena,  an ex professional footballer who played for his uncle, Jomo Sono.   “My father, Julia KK Sono, was a renowned footballer for Orlando Pirates and Jomo Cosmos and between him and Jomo they have played a major role in the way I approach the game,  which I am now passing on to these youngsters.”

He admits that the success on the first day does not mean they have won the tournament.  “I am pleased with the team’s performance, but we need to improve in every game and in this way we will continue to get results. There was no easy game today and by the third game we were tired.  The boys will rest and go back into action tomorrow, playing every game as a final.”

On the same points as Clapham in Group B is Harmony from Virginia in the Free State.  Clapham topped the group on goal difference, 16 as opposed to 12.

Cloetesville from the Western Cape were leading Group A but lost to Rosina Sedibane from Gauteng to place them second. 

Group C sees East High from Mpumalanga ahead with Benny’s Sports Academy in second place, despite their 9 – 0 win over Ndamase from the Eastern Cape.

The final league games will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, with the final play-offs on Thursday culminating with the third/fourth play-off at 10am on Friday followed by performances by Naima Kay, Professor and Big Nuz and then the final game.

RESULTS:  DAY 1 (24 September 2013)

1.            Welabasha 0   vs  Cloetesville 1

                Goal:  Regan Rhode

2.            Sibongumusa 0 vs Executive Academy 1

                Goal:  Sive Klaushe

3.            Rosina Sedibane   1 v Mondale 0

                Goal:  Thabo Mile

4.            Rietvale  0 vs Harmony 3

                Goals:  Tsheo Mogorosi (2), Reginald Tsoela

5.            Freedom Park 0 vs Sebetwane 0

6.            FK Tijiane 1 vs Clapham 9

                Goal:  FK:  Dumisane Shongwe (captain)

7.            Louis Botha 2 vs   Okiep 0

                Goals:  Charlie Hlalele (2)

8.            Eric Nxumalo 1 vs East High 2

                Goals:  EN:  Fumani Mathabela

                EH: Siyabonga Sibiya, Muzi Thabatha

9.            Ndamase 0  vs Benny’s Care 9

Goals:  Matuka Kabota (2), Khuliso Mudau, Eethe Khaukanani (3), Lfentswe Mungadziwa, Alton Lesedi, own goal

10.          Mondale 2 vs Welabasha 1

                Goals:  M: Gavin Saayman, Dillan Fransch

                W: Siyabonga Mkhize

11.          Rosina Sedibane   1 vs  Sibongumusa 0

                Goal:  Motsiri Moshoma

12.          Cloetesville 4 vs Executive Academy 1

                Goals:  CL:  Antonio Lewis (2), Curvin  Williams, Jason Clayton (captain)

                EA: Zolani <Malahla

13.          Clapham 6 vs Rietvale 0

                Goals:  Percy Tau (2), Khayelihle Shozi (3), Motoro Monyai

14.          FK Tijiane 0 vs  Freedom park 0

15.          Harmony 3 vs Sebetwane 0

                Goals:  Mpho Moepetsane, Abram Morake, Tshepiso Lobelo

16.          Benny’s Care 1 vs  Louis Botha 1

                Goals:  LB: Freddie Hlalele

                BC:  Khuliso Mudau

17.          Ndamase 0 vs Eric Nxumalo 1

                Goal:  Fumani Mathebula

18.          Okiep 0 vs East High 3

                Goals: EH:  Muzi Thabotha, Moffat Nkuna, Thembumenzi Ngomane

19.          Welabasha 0 vs  Executive Academy 1

                Goal:  Siphiwe Giften

20.          Cloetesville 0 vs Rosina Sedibane 1

                Goals:  Sifiso Nkosi

21.          Mondale 2 vs Sibongumusa 0

                Goals:  Adrian Jaftha, Ricardo Vorster

22.          Rietvale  1 vs Sebetwane 1

                Goals:  Riet:  Angelo Van Rooi

                Seb: Itumeleng Mosikare

23.          Harmony 6 vs FK Tijiane 0

                Goals:  Tiisetso Noosi, Molelekoa Motaung (2), Reginald Tsoela, Buti Mokele, Mpho Mosoang

24.          Freedom Park 0 vs Clapham 1

                Own goal

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.