Manzile Eltomo, goalkeeper for Danyeni Primary School’s
under-12 soccer team was the toast of Merry Pebbles Stream –an informal
settlement near Piet Retief in Mpumalanga last weekend.
It
was his spectacular penalty save in one of the pool matches at the Mpumalanga
provincial finals of the Danone Nations Cup that kept his side in the
competition, and allowed them to go on to win the Mpumalanga title and take one
step closer to an incredible dream – representing South Africa at the Danone
Nations Cup world finals in London in September.
Ernest
Mabunda is the principal of the school, and also the team’s coach. He puts his
side’s success in the competition in perspective when he explains that most of
the children come from a very poor background. “Most of the families depend on
social grants for survival,” he said. “It’s hard for them to get basic things
that most of us take for granted. Often they come barefooted to school all year
round, with no uniforms.”
So,
winning the provincial finals has been a tremendous boost for the school. “We
are all
thrilled
and the morale is very high at the moment,” Mabunda said. “The parents are so
excited for the children and the school and will be coming to support the kids
building up to the National Finals.’
The
national finals will be in Johannesburg in August “Most of the players have
never been to Johannesburg. They know it as the centre of soccer,” Mabunda
says. “It will be an educational experience for them.”
Danyeni
Primary has been competing in the competition since 2000, and this is the first
time they have advanced to the national finals. “It’s a huge achievement for
the school,” Mabunda said, “and we have the full support of the community.”
Mamunda
says he can see how winning the provincial title has boosted the confidence
levels of the players. “We have increased the time we spend in practice. We
want to make sure that we are one step ahead of the other teams. The boys are
disciplined and are giving 100% at all times. I can see how committed they are
when it comes to practise sessions.”
Mpumalanga Provincial
Finals - Embalenhle Stadium, Saturday 18 May
Imizamoyethu
Primary 1 Dumelani Primary 0
Zandile
Combined School Danyeni Primary 0 (Danyeni won 3-0 on penalties).
Zandile
Combined School 0 Imizamoyethu Primary 1
Dumelani
Primary 1 Danyeni Primary 3
Danyeni
Primary 2 Imizamoyethu Primary 0
Dumelani
Primary 0 Zandile Combined Shcool 1
Final
– Danyeni Primary 0 Imizamoyethu Primary 0 (Danyeni Primary won 2-0 on
penalties).
Health,
nutrition and pleasure are at the heart of everything Danone does. Every day
they work to promote the benefits of a balanced and varied diet. Encouraging
physical activities is a part of this ambition: bring every day health by
nutrition to the greatest number of people.
