Bantwane
Primary School, located in the village of Dennilton in Limpopo, booked their
place in the national finals of the under-12 Danone Nations Cup by beating Pula
Madiboga Primary, on penalties, in the provincial final at the Westernberg
Stadium last weekend.
The
win means they will travel to Reiger Park in Boksburg, Gauteng, for the
national finals on the 22nd June and, according to their coach, Mandla Dube,
the entire school community is chipping in to make it a special occasion.
“I
want to expose the talents of these boys as much as I can so that one day they
will have the opportunity to choose between an academic and a sporting career,”
Dube said. “I would love it if one of my players would one day play in the PSL
or even for Bafana Bafana.”
“The
whole community is behind us and they are raising funds so that we can spend
time in a hotel before leaving for Johannesburg. The aim is to build team spirit and make sure
we are fully rested and prepared,” said Dube. “We are hoping the local
municipality will come on board as
well, seeing that we have lived up to
our promise by winning the provincial finals and are taking the initiative by
implementing these fundraising projects.”
The
Limpopo provincial final was a tense affair, with little to choose between the
two sides. “We drew with Pula Madibogo Primary School in our earlier encounter,
and neither team could score a goal in the final, so we went to penalties. The
penalty shootout was very exciting and we matched each other, goal for goal,
until we snuck home 9-8.
Dube
will be looking to his top goal scorer, Tebogo Makalake, who is also the team
captain, to do the business for Bantwane in the national finals. “He is a true
leader and a dedicated person. His shooting is very accurate and he is very
quick,” he said.
Dube
said they are dreaming big. “We are actually more than ready! We are looking
beyond the national finals and are fixing our passports for the international
play-offs in London in September. The possibility of playing at Wembley stadium
is what is motivating us.”
Limpopo Provincial
Final Results
Pula
Madibogo 0-0 Bantwane (Pula Madibogo won on penalties)
Thapola-A-Nkona
0-0 Mphaka (Mphaka won on penalties)
Benny's
Sport D&A 1-1 Pula Madibogo (Pula Madibogo won on penalties)
Bantwane
0-1 Thapola-A-Nkona
Mphaka
3-0 Benny's Sport D&A
Pula
Madibogo 1-0 Thapola-A-Nkona
Bantwane
1-0 Mphaka
Thapola-A-Nkona
0-3 Benny's Sport D&A
Mphaka
0-1 Pula Madibogo
Benny's
Sport D&A 0-0 Bantwane (Bantwane won on penalties)
Final
Bantwane
0-0 Pula Maibogo (Banwane won on penalties)
