NELSPRUIT HOSTS MPUMALANGA COPA COCA-COLA PROVINCIAL FINALS

The Kabhokweni Stadium in Nelspruit will host the under-15 COPA Coca-Cola Mpumalanga provincial football finals on Saturday, 16 June. The four regional winners in the province will be competing for the provincial crown and for a place at the COPA Coca-Cola national finals in Johannesburg from July 12 to 14.

The schools that will be competing are: Lehlasedi High School (Bohlabela region); Nansindlela Combined School (Nkangala region); Lindile Secondary School (Gert Sibande region); Tikhontele Secondary School (Hlanzeni region) and the action kicks off at 10am on Saturday June 16.

Lindile Secondary School from Wesselton Township in Ermelo is not new to COPA Coca-Cola having reached the provincial finals in 2009, only to be knocked out in the final game.

Coach, Thulani Nkosi, has been in charge of the team for three years now. He believes COPA Coca-Cola has helped the school interact more with their neighbouring schools because now they all train during the week and play matches against each other over weekends which is something they don’t normally do.

Nkosi singles out defensive midfielder Zanele Kuhlase as one of his key players. “He makes good runs from the back and covers well for the other defenders,” Nkosi says. He is also expecting big things from his captain and goalkeeper Andile Motha. “He saved two penalties in the regional playoffs and reads the game very well. He is a natural leader.”

Andile Motha sees the provincial playoffs as a great opportunity to meet other players. “The best part of the tournament is playing against other teams from around the province that we have not seen before. This is the best way to help us develop into better players.”

Lindile’s strongest opposition is likely to come from Tikhontele Secondary School from the Hlanzeni Region. The School is situated in Mbombela Village near Nelspruit and is in the COPA Coca-Cola provincial finals for the third time. They were knocked out at this stage in 2009 and again last year.

Team manager Nkosana Mhlongo believes winning is not the most important thing. “You benefit just by competing,” he says. “We have never been crowned the provincial champions before but it is the experience that counts and the two sets of soccer kits we have which we use all the time.”

Goalkeeper Surprise Mahumane is one the side’s star players. “He has great reflexes, and is a good ball distributor,” said Mhlongo.  Defender Musa Ndwandwe is another player that the side will be depending on for a good performance on Saturday.

“I will be doing my best on Saturday because I want to go to the Nationals in Johannesburg to stand a chance of being scouted by one of the PSL teams,” says Surprise Mahumane. “It is my dream is to play football professionally one day.”

The winning school on Saturday will join Kabelo Secondary School from Limpopo; Are-Fadimeheng Secondary School from North West; Johannesburg Secondary School from Gauteng; Masibonisane High School from KwaZulu-Natal and Robinvale High School from the Western Cape at the COPA Coca-Cola national finals in Johannesburg from July 12 to 14. The other provinces will be identifying their champions over the next few weeks.

KZN HIGH SCHOOLS READY FOR THE COPA COCA-COLA PROVINCIAL FINALS

The Cecil Emmet Sports Grounds in Vryheid will be the venue for the KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Finals in the under-15 COPA Coca-Cola football tournament on Saturday June 2 (kickoff 9am).

Twelve Regional winners from around the province will be in action on the day and they will be fighting it out for the KwaZulu-Natal title and for the honour of representing the province at the National Finals in July. The winning schools also receive prize money from the sponsors, to be used to purchase sporting and educational equipment for their school.

Among the contenders to take the KwaZulu-Natal crown is Umqhele Secondary School from the Pinetown district. This is the sixth time that the school has played in the COPA Coca-Cola competition. They won the 2007 KwaZulu-Natal provincials title and were knocked out in the quarterfinal stage of the National Playoffs that year. Among the school’s most famous ex-pupils is Golden Arrows and Bafana Bafana midfielder Thanduyise Khuboni.

As far as this year’s team is concerned, Luyanda Mchunu, a speedy striker with an eye for goals, who netted six times in the regional stage of the competition, and goalkeeper Mlungisi  Mkhize who saved four penalties ion the regional playoff games, are likely to be key players on Saturday.

Umqhele Secondary’s coach is Phenduka Mkhwanazi. He says his team are determined to be crowned the provincial champions on Saturday.

“We don’t have a sponsor and this is our chance to win ourselves some money so we can buy soccer equipment because at the moment we have a good soccer field but our soccer balls and kit is old and some of our players have to borrow boots for matches,” he says.

Umqhele’s strongest opposition is likely to come from Bethamoya High School from the Amajuba district.

The school is based in Emadadeni Township near Newcastle. This is the fourth time they have been in the COPA Coca-Cola competition and they won the KwaZulu-Natal title in 2009.

Their key players are striker Xolani Cebekhulu who got four goals in the regional stage of the competition; Samukelo Dweku, who is a midfielder and a good ball distributor to the strikers and the captain, Sanele Nyembe, a defender who reads the game very well.

Their coach is Sihlesenkosi Gwala, a teacher at the school. He says they are grateful for the opportunity Coca-Cola is giving them.

“Our former student Andile Ace Khumalo plays for AmaZulu after being identified at the COPA Coca-Coca Tournament in 2009 by AmaZulu scouts,” Gwala says.

Schools competing in the KwaZulu-Natal COPA Coca-Cola Provincial finals are:

KWAZULU NATAL
REGION	TEAMS	VENUE
Amajuba	Bethamoya High School	Cecil Emmet Sports Grounds, Vryheid.
Empangeni	Khombindlela High School
Ilembe	Guzana Secondary School
Pinetown	Umqhele Secondary School
Umlazi	Bonela Secondary School
Ugu	Sphakeme High School
Sisonke	Dingeka Technical High School
Umgungundlovu	Sukuma Comprehensive  School
Umzinyathi	Sebenzakusakhanya High School
Uthukela	Mthonjeni Wolwazi High School
Umkhanyakude	Masibonisane High School
Vryheid	Siyangempumelelo High School

About COPA Coca-Cola:

·         Copa Coca-Cola is run under the auspices of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA)

·         Coca-Cola started sponsoring Coca-Cola Football Stars in 2005.

·         Between 2005 and 2008 a TV reality element was introduced aimed at finding the top 18 players who would go on to compete internationally.  To keep interests high an elimination process was brought in to reduce players from approximately 70 down to 18 and the public witnessed the trials and tribulations that went into becoming a top football player.

·         In 2009 and 2010 the name changed to bring the tournament in line with Coca-Cola’s global youth strategy to COPA Coca-Cola.  The aim of the tournament remained the same i.e. to look for the top Under-19 school in the country and find the top 18 players who then competed against approximately 13 other African schools in the Copa Coca-Cola finals. 

·         In 2012 COPA Coca-Cola became an Under 15 tournament to align with the Copa Coca-Cola globally. 

·         The tournament starts off at Cluster level (this level is now complete as it happened in January)

·         Regional winners then compete in the Provincial Finals

·         Provincial winners then compete in the National Finals taking place from the 12^rd – 14^th July.



2011 Winners Groutville High School

Football Development in South Africa took centre stage in Gauteng this past weekend

Johannesburg Secondary School will be the Gauteng representative at the under-15 COPA Coca-Cola National Finals in Tshwane in early July.

Johannesburg Secondary beat Clapham High School 2-0 in the final of the Gauteng provincial playoffs at the Saul Tsotetsi Sports Grounds in Sebokeng on Saturday.

2012 is the first year that COPA Coca-Cola will be an Under 15 tournament and is run under the auspices of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA) with over 1 000 schools from around South Africa competing.

Johannesburg Secondary School is the education partner to the Orlando Pirates Youth Academy, while Clapham had players from the Mamelodi Sundowns Youth Academy in its ranks.

The presence of four Academy teams out of the eight participating in the Gauteng provincials - Highlands North Boys’ High School (JazzyQueen’s African Sport Academy) and Rosina Sedibane High School (SuperSport United) are the other two – indicates that the PSL Clubs are on a mission to boost their squads with home grown talent.

“It is the way forward,” said Themba Ngwenya, Mamelodi Sundowns scout. “The Sundowns philosophy is to look for local talent at an early age and get them into our academy to teach them the Sundowns way which is the 4-3-3 format and attacking football. Our club owner, Mr Motsepe, is also doing all he can to boost the Tshwane communities.”

Isaac Shai, the Clapham and Sundowns Academy coach was pleased with the way the day went. “We went down to a mightier opponent, but I am happy with my team. We only enrolled our players into Clapham earlier this year and we have done exceptionally well in just a few months,” he said.

I am especially pleased with the way the players approached each game. They kept their composure and never forgot the game plan.”

Johannesburg Secondary School had a big advantage: 13 of the 17 players in their squad have been together since primary school. As a team, they won a 40 nation international tournament at the Orlando Stadium back in 2009.

Rosina Sedibane suffered a setback earlier in the day when their key midfielder, OrbadjaMaluleka fell and broke his wrist so had to be taken to hospital. “It is a pity as he is our key ball supplier to the strikers,” said their coach, Reginald Patterson. “I did have back up in Zama Mzondwana, also a midfielder whose special talent is his ability to read opponents. But it was not our day and all the best to Johannesburg Secondary School.”

Craig Van Niekerk, Coca-Cola South Africa Marketing Asset Manager explains the change of age group:  “The change is in line with COPA Coca-Cola’s global strategy. The Coca-Cola Company backs football at the highest level, the FIFA World Cup™ and it is the company policy to complement this by making a direct contribution towards strengthening the sport at grassroots level through tournaments such as COPA Coca-Cola, and globally the tournament is run as an Under-15 event.  Coca-Cola South Africa also backs Club football through the Premier Soccer League (PSL).”

“But COPA Coca-Cola is not just about winning, but respecting diversity,” explains Donnay Carter, Coca-Cola South Africa Brand Manager.  “It’s about living a healthy and active lifestyle, forging friendships with those from vastly different backgrounds, harnessing the extraordinary power that football has to unite different cultures and backgrounds to bring people together and living for a difference. ”

GUATENG FINAL RESULTS

Pool A - Clapham 3 (Lovers Malatsi, Avuyile Makhudu, Tepiso Mbongwa) Highlands North 0; ThomasMofolo 1 (Tshediso Monamadi) BasaTutorial Institute 0; Clapham 1 (AvuyileMakhudu) Thomas Mofolo 1 (TshedisoMonamadi); Highlands North 3 (Warren Segage3) Basa 0; Clapham 8 (Avuyile Makhudu(3), Lovers Malatsi (3), Sizwe Chuene, Thomas Njajubana) Basa 0; Thomas Mofolo 5 (Tshediso Monanadi (4) Thabo Modubu ) Highlands North 1 (Warren Segage).

Pool B - Johannesburg 3 (Sibusiso Damini, Thula Tabethe, Sizwe Twala) Zitikeni 1 (Mongezi Sicna); Rosina Sedibane 6 (Banjatwa Hendrik (3), Mabange Sizwe (2), Thuto Marafe) EdendalePeps 1(Kagiso Maredi); Johannesburg 8 (Bonolo Sieeco, Sizwe Twala (2), Sibusiso Dlamini (2), Sibusiso Sako, Phila Vela, DanisileMqwathi), Edendale Peps 0; Rosina Sedibane 3 (OfentseMotjaana (2), Tshegofatso Pampati) Edendale Peps 1 (Kagiso Maredi); Johannesburg 1 (Sizwe Twala) Rosina Sedibane 0); Zitikeni 3 (Siche Mongezi, Tebogo Thepe, Sifiso Mtshwei ) Edendale 1(Ofentse Makhatho);

Final- Johannesburg 2 (ThulaThabethe, Mbongiseni Mazibuko) Clapham 0.

About COPA Coca-Cola:

·         Copa Coca-Cola is run under the auspices of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA)

·         Coca-Cola started sponsoring Coca-Cola Football Stars in 2005.

·         Between 2005 and 2008 a TV reality element was introduced aimed at finding the top 18 players who would go on to compete internationally.  To keep interests high an elimination process was brought in to reduce players from approximately 70 down to 18 and the public witnessed the trials and tribulations that went into becoming a top football player.

·         In 2009 and 2010 the name changed to bring the tournament in line with Coca-Cola’s global youth strategy to COPA Coca-Cola.  The aim of the tournament remained the same i.e. to look for the top Under-19 school in the country and find the top 18 players who then competed against approximately 13 other African schools in the Copa Coca-Cola finals. 

·         In 2012 COPA Coca-Cola became an Under 15 tournament to align with the Copa Coca-Cola globally. 

·         The tournament starts off at Cluster level (this level is now complete as it happened in January)

·         Regional winners then compete in the Provincial Finals

·         Provincial winners then compete in the National Finals taking place from the 3^rd – 7^th July.

NORTH WEST HOST COPA COCA-COLA PROVINCIAL FINAL

North West will host the next Under 15 Copa Coca-Cola Provincial Final taking place on 19^th May at the Motlosana Stadium in Klerksdorp.  Four Regional winners will compete for the chance to represent the Province in the National Finals. Games kick-off at 8.00am and entrance is free. 

First time contender, Maatla Secondary school from Dr Ruth Mompati Region, are hoping to make an impression.  ”We have seen how tournaments such as Copa Coca-Cola have changed people’s lives for the better,” said coach, Edward Moepeng who believes that his players will gain confidence by playing in a tournament of this calibre.

The players walk up to 10 km to get to training but this doesn’t hold them back from pursuing their dreams.  “My dream is to become a professional sportsman,” said grade 10 striker, Tsepo Khudugaone who plays football and is an accomplished athlete.  “I won a silver medal in the 100m sprint recently when I represented Dr Ruth Mompati in a regional athletics event.”

Another player that should do well for the school is grade 8 midfielder, Bafana Chabe and striker, Okane Mokae.  “These two players have good ball control and an eye for goals,” said Moepeng.   

Maatla Secondary School will be up against fifth time participants Arefadimeheng Secondary School from Dr Kenneth Kaunda Region.  The schools last won through to the National Finals in 2009. 

The winning school will represent the North West province in the National Finals happening in Gauteng from 12^th – 14^th July.

About COPA Coca-Cola:

·         Copa Coca-Cola is run under the auspices of the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA)

·         Coca-Cola started sponsoring Coca-Cola Football Stars in 2005.

·         Between 2005 and 2008 a TV reality element was introduced aimed at finding the top 18 players who would go on to compete internationally.  To keep interests high an elimination process was brought in to reduce players from approximately 70 down to 18 and the public witnessed the trials and tribulations that went into becoming a top football player.

·         In 2009 and 2010 the name changed to bring the tournament in line with Coca-Cola’s global youth strategy to COPA Coca-Cola.  The aim of the tournament remained the same i.e. to look for the top Under-19 school in the country and find the top 18 players who then competed against approximately 13 other African schools in the Copa Coca-Cola finals. 

·         In 2012 COPA Coca-Cola became an Under 15 tournament to align with the Copa Coca-Cola globally. 

·         The tournament starts off at Cluster level (this level is now complete as it happened in January)

·         Regional winners then compete in the Provincial Finals

·         Provincial winners then compete in the National Finals taking place from the 3^rd – 7^th July.

o   Prize money:

o   1^st prize - R150 000

o   2^nd prize – R100 000

o   3^rd prize – R60 000

o   Remaining six teams – R40 000 each

NORTH WEST
REGIONS	FIXTURES	VENUES
Dr Ruth Mompati	Maatla Secondary School	Matlosana stadium, Klerksdorp
Dr Kenneth Kaunda	Arefadimeheng Secondary school
Nkanga Modiri Molema	Still to be decided
Bojanala	Still to be decided