KZN newcomers gear up for Danone Nations Cup action

PRESS RELEASE

The under-12 Danone Nations Cup competition is under way, and entries have poured in from all over the country.

Many regulars are back again this year, but what is exciting is the number of newcomers who have joined in the competition.

Among the schools who are entering for the first time are three from KwaZul-Natal: Prince Dabulamanzi Secondary Primary School, Muzikayise Primary School and Muzomuhle Primary School

Prince Dabulamanzi Secondary Primary School is named after the well-known Zulu military commander in the Anglo-Zulu War and is located in uLundi in the Zululand region.

Their manager/coach is Siyabonga Zwane. He is a teacher at the school and, although he has no formal soccer coaching qualification, he has a Level 1 Coaching certificate in cricket and rugby and is the school’s sports and social coordinator.

He says they are using their first year in the competition as a learning experience to gauge the level of play and to learn more about the tournament.

“I see the philosophy of the tournament is to encourage healthy eating habits,” he says. “That’s something we strongly support. We have our own food gardens which the boys have to look after.”

Joining them in the competition this year is Muzikayise Primary School from Newcastle in the Amajuba region.

Coach Nhlalzekho Nxumalo explains that this is the first year that the school could enter because they school formerly only went up to grade 4. Now they have seniors who are old enough to play.

Nxumalo has been teaching Maths at the school for the 5 past years. He explains that the teachers all get together on weekends and play games against the local police, taxi and other community teams.  This keeps them active.

He follows the DNC Facebook page to get more information about the tournament and learns about coaching via the internet and from reading books.

“We have been hard at training, but because we have no experience in the competition, it’s difficult to say how we are going to do,” he says.

Muzomuhle Primary School from uMlazi B Township in Durban are also in the Danone Nations Cup for the first time.

Sbu Mchunu, the coach, found out about the competition in the Eyethu uMlazi newspaper and he sold the idea of participating to the school.

Mchunu is a parent there and part of the School Governing Body. He is involved in the daily activities at the school and now he is also the coach of the team.

He says he has selected the team and 80% of the players play for local soccer clubs in the uMlazi Local Football Association.

“They have all played in tournaments before, so they should be able to adapt to this one,” he said.

Muzomhule Primary has produced a professional footballer in Prince Nxumalo who scored in his debut match for SuperSport United. He is currently at Ajax Cape Town and is the club’s top goal scorer this season.

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About Danone

Danone Southern Africa is part of the Danone Group, one of the fastest-growing food companies in the world.  Danone is present in over 120 countries across all continents. With 160 plants and around 100,000 employees, the Danone Group is the number one worldwide for Fresh Dairy Products. Danone’s mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible.

One of the core values of the Danone Nations Cup tournament is to encourage young people to believe in their dreams. Through this initiative Danone offers a sporting event that reaches out to and inspires millions of children all over the world

Gauteng Schools prepare for the Danone Nations Cup

Registrations are still open for primary schools in the 15 Gauteng Provincial districts to enter the 2017 Danone Nations Cup. 

The tournament begins at cluster level and progresses through regional and provincial finals, with the top nine schools eventually playing in the national finals in July. The winners there earn the right to represent the country at the Danone Nations Cup World Finals which take place in the United States later in the year.

The Tshwane South district usually sees between 25 and 30 primary schools competing, and among them this year will be Sunnyside Primary School. The school has played in the competition for many years, with limited success, until last year when, under new coach Phila Pereira they managed to get through to the provincial finals stage.

“We never won the provincial title, but three of my players were noticed there,” Pereira said. “Lungelo Sibeko was scouted by Supersport United Football Club and is currently playing for their development team; and David Mbrize and Mickey Banzio were select to play for the Pretoria Football Club under-13s. They would never have got those opportunities if we hadn’t played in the provincial finals, and that is motivating us to do well again this year.”

Sunnyside selected its team for this year’s competition in October last year. “Preparations have started,” Pereira said. “We have played some friendlies against local clubs and all the boys also play for Blue Stars club in the local league and I coach them there.”

Across in the Ekurhuleni South district Sonqoba Primary School has registered again.

Their coach, Wonder Mtshali, has managed to get them into the provincial finals every year since 2012.  They competed in the national finals in 2012 but have not managed to get there again. “We were knocked out at the provincial stage last year, but we are already working hard to go one better this time,” he said. “I am concentrating on our attack because we never scored enough goals last year.

“The team needs to present a united front from the beginning until the end of the game, leaving no gap for the opposition to counter attack against us.”

Mtshali is full of praise for the tournament. “Grass roots development is essential if we as a nation want to be successful at soccer. We need more tournaments such as the Danone Nations Cup that will encourage players and give them more exposure. 

“The young players are getting exposed to professional standards of soccer. Danone is a very important brand and visible to the whole world. They want to nurture the talent of these players and ensure a brighter future for them. That’s very important,” he concluded.

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Registration is still open.  Download the forms on:

www.danone.co.za/pages/ourcommunity/danonenationscup

Facebook:  @dncsouthafrica

Or send an email to:

thembatshabalala@saschoolsfa.co.za, brandon@visionrsm.co.za, info@intunecom.co.za

                                                  

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KFC Mini-Cricket Kids conquer Proteas to level series

The 2016/17 KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour came to an exciting end after the kids overcame the Proteas for the second consecutive week to claim a 2-2 series result.  The Proteas travelled to the famous Khaya Majola oval in Mthatha to take on the KFC Mini-Cricket kids from Zamaxolo Junior Secondary School in the Tour decider.  The Proteas took a 2-1 series lead into the game but were weary of the on-form kids after their emphatic victory in Durban.  The kids put on yet another stellar display, claiming victory with more than an over to spare to level up the series and to end the Tour honours even.

Stellar fielding, vocal supporters and line and length bowling from Zamaxolo JSS was the theme of the first innings as the Proteas found runs hard to come by.  Wickets were lost to run outs at regular intervals as the kids heaped the pressure on their opponents. Captain on the day, batsman Temba Bavuma, along with Eastern Cape local boy, Jon-Jon Smuts, did their best to keep the runs ticking over.  In the end the Proteas were able to set the kids a target of 38 to win.

The opening overs of the second innings once again proved a tight affair with the kids finding the likes of Eddie Leie hard to get away.  A rare miss-field from Reeza Hendricks and a big over off Bavuma’s bowling however gave the kids a sniff at victory.  From then onward they dominated and a massive over off of Jon-Jon Smuts saw them home with 8 balls to spare.

KFC Mini-Cricket all-star coach and former Protea, Mfunkeo Ngam, who has remained unbeaten in the 4 year history of the Tour, was immensely proud of his young team.  “The Proteas last won in 2013/14 so to have now gone 3 tours without a series loss is a phenomenal achievement.  There was pressure on our team today to come up with a result and the kids certainly delivered.  They went up against some of the stars of world cricket this season so they should be hugely proud of their performance, not only today but over the entire Tour.  KFC Mini-Cricket continues to go from strength to strength and I can’t wait to have another crack at the Proteas in the 2017/18 season” said Ngam.

The player of the match performance by Zamaxolo’s Anele Nunu was testament to the kids’ brilliant showing. The highlight of his unbeaten 15 runs was a brilliant reverse sweep over the wicketkeeper’s head which proved the defining moment and set his team on the path to victory.

Proteas captain on the day, Temba Bavuma, was pleased with his team’s performance over the season and equally impressed by the level of talent witnessed in this season’s KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour.  “We have been on a good run of form recently and although we couldn’t deliver today, we are pleased to have shared the spoils with the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids.  The kids have been tough opponents over the years and this year was no different.  They put up a real fight and I’m sure KFC will be thrilled at the level of talent emerging.  This is always one of the most exciting events on the Proteas calendar and we are already looking forward to the 2017/18 tour,” he said.

The Proteas won the inaugural KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour in 2013/14. The 2014/15 Tour, was won by the kids with the 2015/16 Tour ending in a 2-2 draw.  With this season ending 2-2, both teams will be eager to continue their great form when the Tour returns for a 5^th edition later in 2017.

Mike Middleton, Chief Marketing Officer for KFC South Africa concluded, “Congratulations to both teams on one of the best ever KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tours.  We travelled the length and breadth of South Africa playing four exciting games.  We gave aspiring young cricketers the once in a lifetime opportunity to get active and take on their heroes, and we witnessed some amazing displays from the current and future stars of South African cricket.  We can’t wait to do it again in 2017/18, it will once again be even bigger and better and I’m sure the KFC Mini-Cricket kids will once again be a formidable challenge for the Proteas.”

KFC Mini-Cricket is played by over 114,000 kids who are coached by nearly 9000 volunteer coaches. 

To get your child involved in KFC Mini-Cricket or to volunteer as a coach visit www.kfcminicricket.co.za

{ENDS}

Media Contact

Shawn Belluigi

Tel: 083 675 4338

Email: shawn@intunecom.co.za

About the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids v Proteas Tour

For the third year KFC will run a national competition where KFC Mini-Cricket kids will stand the chance to play against the Proteas in the KFC Mini-Cricket Kids vs Proteas Tour

Kids can enter online (www.kfcminicricket.co.za) or via USSD (*120*7535#)

The winners will be rewarded with a prize handover, a training session and a game against the Proteas, all assisted by one of the three KFC Mini-Cricket coaches, Graeme Smith, Neil McKenzie and Mfuneko Ngam.

The runners-up will be given the opportunity to participate as ball boys and girls at a televised Ram Slam T20 Challenge match in their area

Three third place winners will be drawn, each of whom will be awarded with 25 KFC Mini-Cricket sets for their school.

About KFC Mini-Cricket

KFC Mini-Cricket provides a platform for kids in South Africa to have fun and get active

KFC Mini-Cricket is the largest grassroots development sports programme in South Africa and is also an essential building block for learning cricketing basics and entrenching a love for the game. 

There are currently over 110 000 kids from over 4 900 schools active in the KFC Mini-Cricket programme who are coached by over 8000 volunteers

KFC has sponsored KFC Mini-Cricket since 2010 and in the 2012/13 cricket season KFC became the title sponsor of the KFC T20 Internationals and an associate sponsor of the Ram Slam T20 Challenge.

KFC has recently renewed its Mini-Cricket sponsorship for a further 10 years, taking the partnership through to 2025

Log on to www.kfcminicricket.co.za or contact CSA at (011) 880 2810 for more info on KFC Mini-Cricket