ASANDA MKIELE LOOKS FORWARD TO POLAND AND THE DANONE NATIONAL CUP WORLD FINALS

Football has already taken 11-year old Asanda Mkiele to places he has never been before, and it’s going to get even better.  Asanda is a member of the Sinamuva Public Primary School football team that was crowned the Danone Nations Cup South Africa champions in June and the reward is a trip to Warsaw, Poland to participate in the 2012 Danone Nations Cup World Finals, along with 39 other countries.

When Sinamuva Public Primary, from Imbali Township in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal won the Danone Nations Cup KwaZulu-Natal Provincial Final, they qualified to play in the National Finals in Johannesburg and for Asanda, like most of his team mates, that was the first time he had been out of Imbali.

“I was really scared. I was leaving home for the first time. I didn’t know what to expect from the other kids we would be playing against, and from the place itself,” he said.

Asanda is a centre-back who describes himself as being able to head the ball well and who is strong in defence and good at distributing and clearing the ball.

He was born into a family of four and lives with his grandmother, Thandazo Mkiele, who is a pensioner. His mother died two years ago and his father left immediately afterwards and they haven’t seen him since.

Asanda has dreams of becoming a doctor or a social worker one day and of making a difference in his community. “My grandmother motivates me,” he said. “She is very strong and has always told me to persevere, no matter how hard things are.”

Sinamuva Public Primary Schools’ journey in the Danone Nations Cup so far has not been easy, but it has been a dream come true, says Asanda. “Our facilities are not good and the opposition in the district and provincial playoffs were tough.  But hard work and determination saw us through.  What this has taught me is that dreams are never out of reach and that football can unite kids. I am proud of myself and my team mates.”

Asanda says that just winning this tournament has put his school on the map and he has been impressed with the support they have received from the local Department of Education and Department of Sport.  “Everyone is helping us prepare as best as possible.  I have never travelled anywhere far from Imbali. Football took us to Jo’burg, and now we are going to Poland. I can’t wait,” he said.

Danone Nations Cup South Africa ambassador, Neil Tovey, will be in Jo’burg to talk to the kids before they leave.  “My message to them will be to enjoy every moment and just go out there and do your best.  It is not about winning, but about learning and I can bet these kids will pick up some valuable football tips from other countries.”

Here are some pictures from last year Danone Nations Cup World Finals Farewell.

 

SAFA - TRANSNET FOOTBALL SCHOOL OF EXCELLENT CROWNED GAUTENG U19 SANLAM KAY MOTSEPE SCHOOLS CUP FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS

The SAFA – Transnet Football School of Excellence from Ekurhuleni North was crowned the Under 19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Gauteng football Champions at the Nike Football Centre in Soweto on Saturday after beating Rosina Sedibane-Modiba Sports School from Laudium 6 – 5 on penalties in the final.  The score was level on 2-all at the end of regulation time. The School of Excellence wins R100 000 and both schools will now compete in the National Finals happening in Bloemfontein, Free State from 2 – 6 October.

The eight schools that participated in the Gauteng provincial finals were divided into two Groups and competed in a round robin with the teams topping the log meeting in the final.

“It is one thing to win the tournament, but what I am really ecstatic about is being the highest goal scorer,” said Stanley Muishond, who scored 9 goals in 4 games for the School of Excellence, including two goals in the final.  “This has given me a boost of confidence and proves that hard work pays off.”

Khabo Zondo, coach of the School of Excellence, is proud of his players and believes this has been a good learning experience for the youngsters.  “When I joined the School last year I noted that the players did not believe in themselves.  My first task was to instil discipline and build player confidence and this win shows that this tactic worked.  I believe this win is just the start of great things to come for the School.” 

The SAFA- Transnet Football School of Excellence was started by ex Bafana Bafana and Kaizer Chiefs captain, Neil Tovey in 1994 with the sole purpose of grooming talented players for the international stage.  Steven Pienaar, currently playing for Everton is a product of the School.  

Coach, Hendrick Kgosana from Rosina Sedibane, was disappointed not to have won, but pleased they still have a chance to win the R1 million in the National Finals.  “The final was not an easy game, but my players did well and were tactically disciplined on the field which will work in our favour in the National Finals.”  Rosina included a number of players that are with the SuperSport United Academy.

Kgosana believes that South African football development is definitely on the right track:  “This is the third year we have competed in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup and what I have noticed is how competitive the tournament gets each year.  I am pleased at the way my players absorbed the pressure.”  Rosina was the Gauteng champion in 2010 but only managed a 5^th place finish in the National Finals that year.

Rosina captain, Thabo Moloi, played in the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup in 2011 and has also been part of the Under 17 National Team.  “We were beaten on penalties today, but I am confident we will do well in the National Finals.  Our team has improved a lot in a year.  We are more tactically disciplined and we applied all the methods the coach taught us.”

The final provincial final takes place in the Western Cape on 1 September. 

RESULTS

PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS:

D8 Jet Nteo Secondary School (Sedibeng West)

D6 Tiisetsong (Gauteng South)

D11 Jabulile (Johannesburg South)

D9 Highlands North (Johannesburg East)

D4 Rosina Sedibane Sports School (Tshwane South)

D7 Khanya Lesedi (Sedibeng East)

D14 Seana-Marena (Johannesburg Central)

D17 School of Excellence (Ekurhuleni North)

 

Group A

Jet Nteo Secondary School

Tiisetsong Secondary School

Rosina Sedibane-Modiba Sports School

Highlands North Boys High School

 

Group B

Jabulile Secondary School

Khanya Lesedi High School

Seana-Marena Secondary School

SAFA – Transnet Football School of Excellence

 

1 .Jet Nteo 4    vs Tiisetsong 0

Goals:  Rathabile Soso (2), Tola Mosia, Lefa Mnisi

2. Rosina Sedibane 6   vs Highlands North 0

Goals:  Vusiwe Mncube (3), Vusiwe Ntshangase, Ross Masithela (2)

3. Jabulile  0  vs Khanya Lesedi 3

Goals: Katlego Motloung, Lebohang Maboe, Andile Tshabalala

4. Seana-Marena 0    vs School of Excellence 6

Goals: Kgotso Mogagabe, Abednigo Mostatlhaga, Stanley Muishond (2), Richard Moremi (2)

5. Tiisetsong 0  vs Rosina Sedibane 6

Goals: Vusimuzi Mncube (2),  Cebo Meyiwa (Penalty), Snethemba Ngidi (3)

6. Highlands North 0 vs Jet Nteo 1

Goals: Thabang Mphahlele

7.  Khanya Lesedi  1  vs Seana-Marena 0

Goal:  Andile Tshabalala

8. School of Excellence 7  vs Jabulile 0

Goals:  Abednigo Mostatlhaga, Stanley Muishond (4), Letmukuthula Radebe, Richard Moremi

9. Jet Nteo 0 vs Rosina Sedibane 3

Goals: Cebo Meyiwa, Vusiwe Mncube, Reabetswe Tefo

10. Tiisetsong 11 vs Highlands North 3

Goals:  Tiisetsong:  Kgotso Ntsane, Emmanuel Nonjevu (3), Philip Ndlondlo (5), Mokoena Thabang, Thembekile Nkalitshana,

Highlands:  Thabang Rakawale, Katlego Mphahlele (2)

11. Jabulile 3 vs Seana-Marena 3

Goals:  Jabulile:  Neo Molefe (2), Banele Nkosi

Seana-Marena: Kagiso Chuene, .Kgomotso Senone, (OG) Themba Khumalo (Jabulile)

12. Khanya Lesedi 0 vs School of Excellence 3

Goals:  Richard Moremi, Stanley Muishond, Ofentse Lekanyane

FINAL:

School of Excellence 2  vs Rosina Sedibane 2

School of Excellence won 6 – 5 on penalties

Goals:  SOE: Stanley Muishond (2)

Rosina:  Snethemba Ngidi, Vusiwe Ntshangase

SARU LAUNCH COCA-COLA SCHOOLS EXCELLENCE PROGRAMME

 

Schoolboy rugby players in previously disadvantaged areas will now be able to have access to scientific training methods and gym facilities thanks to the Coca-Cola Schools Excellence programme launched by SARU on Saturday at the Wesbank Sports Ground in Malmesbury in the Boland province.

 

The programme will initially be rolled out to 20 schools in Western Province, Boland, Southwestern Districts and Eastern Province and there are plans to eventually expand the initiative so that rugby playing schools in previously disadvantaged areas across the countries will benefit from it.

 

On Saturday SARU and Coca-Cola hosted the national launch event of the programme at the Wesbank Sports Ground at Malmesbury in one of the traditional heartland areas of South African rugby. The event coincided with a festival rugby day and the top fixture of the 8-match schools programme featured the first teams of Schoonspruit and Weston High.

 

The two schools forms part of the initial intake of schools, which includes 6 schools from Boland, 4 each from Western Province and Eastern Province and 3 each from Border and Southwestern Districts.

 

Mervin Green, the SARU GM for Development, said the Coca-Cola Schools Excellence Programme will be an instrumental tool in the effort to closing the gap between traditional rugby playing schools and those located in previously disadvantaged communities.

 

According to Green,a recent study at the Coca-Cola Craven Weeks highlighted the gap in size and weight of white players compared to black players, which were attributed to a lack of strength training. The study ascribed two of the main reasons for non-participation in strength training in thesecommunities to a lack of access to weight training facilities and the absence of training programmes. 

 

“With these factors in mind, SARU - with the assistance of Coca-Cola and the Sports Science Institute of SA- has now designed a holistic intervention programme that will run for at least the next four years. The programme includes the provision of a fully equipped mobile gym, specific rugby training equipment and playing kit, training and education programmes as well as the provision of sufficient playing opportunities,” explains Green.

 

SARU requested the Sports Science Institute to assist with the design of a scientific solution to these problems and the Institute then developed the Mobile School Training System (MSTS).  Apart from the provision of the mobile gym, the Institute will also provide a training manual, training aids and an instruction DVD, which will tutor teachers on the correct exercise execution and age appropriate exercise.

 

Up to 22 schools players will be able to use the mobile gym facility at the same time.

 

“This programme provides an additional platform for players to develop correctly and get a better chance to represent his province in our Coca-Cola Craven Week ,” said Craig Van Niekerk, Marketing Asset Manager, Coca-Cola South Africa. “For 27 years Coca-Cola has been developing international rugby players and this statistic can only be enhanced through this programme.” 

 

“SARU believes that one of the key ways of improving the standard of rugby at these schools is to improve the standard of competition and this year those schools enrolled in the programme will be requested to play festival games against other participating in their province. The idea is to eventually expand the programme from 2014 countrywide,” said Green.

 

NOMINATED SCHOOLS 2012
No	School	Provincial Union
1	New Orleans Secondary	Boland
2	Weston High	Boland
3	Klein Nederburg High	Boland
4	Berg River Secondary	Boland
5	Weltevrede Secondary	Boland
6	Schoonspruit Secondary	Boland
7	Nkwaca Public High	Border
8	Buchule Tech High	Border
9	Chief Henry Bokleni High	Border
10	Solomon Mhlangu High	Eastern Province
11	Ndzondelelo High	Eastern Province
12	David Livingston Secondary	Eastern Province
13	Ithembelihle Comprehensive	Eastern Province
14	Kairo Secondary	Southwestern Districts
15	George Secondary	Southwestern Districts
16	Bridgeton High	Southwestern Districts
17	Scottsdene High	Western Province
18	Kasselsvlei High	Western Province
19	Excelssior High	Western Province
20	Bellville Secondary	Western Province

 

YOUNG STUDENT EARNS A TRIP AS A FIRST STEP TOWARDS HIS DREAM OF PLAYING FOOTBALL IN RUSSIA

Sanele Buthelezi is a midfielder-come-striker who is confident with the ball at his feet, who puts in clever runs, and who finishes off the chances that come his way.

And now he is going to get the opportunity to show off those skills on a world stage as part of the Sinamuva Public Primary School football team that was crowned the Danone Nations Cup South Africa champions in June after a tough four months of qualifications.

The team’s reward is a trip to Warsaw, Poland in September to participate in the 2012 Danone Nations Cup World Finals, along with 39 other countries.

Sanele hails from Imbali Township in Pietermaritzburg, and he started playing football back in 2005 when he was six years old.

In grade 2 he made his school’s athletics team and even represented the KwaZulu-Natal province. After those national championships he asked the football coach, Mr Khoane, if he could train with the team as the athletics season was over and before long he joined the team permanently.

Sanele sees Mamelodi Sundowns’ Teko Modise as a player he looks up to. “He plays my style of football and, coincidentally I wore his jersey number (8) at the Danone National Finals,” he said.

A person who has inspired Sanele is his maths teacher Ms Mamthi. “She always advises us to work hard, to be ambitious and have self-discipline,” he said

Sanele hopes to study mechanical engineering one day, and says that besides football, he also loves writing and dreams of being one of South Africa’s best-known writers in the future.

“My biggest dream, however, is of building a decent house for my family because we currently live in one bedroom shack. If I do pursue my football career I would love to play in Russia and earn enough to do that.”

“My mom, Nozipho Buthelezi works as a cashier at a local supermarket and she does her best to support me and my four siblings,” she is my inspiration and motivation.”

Sanele says the Provincials Finals were the hardest stage of the Danone Nations Cup for his team.

“I think teamwork pulled us through the preliminary rounds of the provincial finals. We struggled in our first two games and in the final we got the equalising goal in the last minute and went on to win 2-1 on penalties.”

“Playing in the Danone Cup National Finals has given me more confidence. I have learned that I can believe in my dreams. The tournament taught me to be more motivated in life.”

“Winning the National Finals and getting visit from Neil Tovey, who coached us at the school were experiences I will never forget.”

“This has brought great recognition to our school,” he said. “I can’t wait to get on the plane for Poland.”