Bantwane Primary School wins the Limpopo Danone Nations Cup Provincial final

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)