Louis Botha wins Free State Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup Provincial Final

Bloemfontein's Louis Botha Technical High School beat Harmony Academy 4 – 2 on penalties to win the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup provincial final and, with it, R100 000 in educational and sporting projects for the school, as well as a chance to play for the big prize of R1 million at the national finals in Durban later this month.

The school has been playing in the tournament since 2008 and the win over Harmony was sweet revenge for them after they were eliminated from the competition at the provincial finals by the Virginia school last year.

Louis Botha is a Sports Academy and has produced many sportsmen that have gone on to become professionals such as Alan Donald (cricket).  Football was only introduced to the school more recently and already local clubs have benefited from the fine talent including Mohau Molefe and Sedilaka Mokone who are with Bloemfontein Celtic, Wandile Tjemolane has joined Roses United (Second Division) and Samkelo Dladla is with United Football Club (National First Division).  Mamelodi Sundowns has also taken a couple of players into their Academy.

“We have only been playing football for a few years now and we plan to make a huge impact in the Free State by providing top Clubs with skilled and well trained players, ” said coach, Prince Sani.  “Winning the provincial final will take our dream a step closer to reality.

Sani has been an external coach for the school since 2007 and holds a Sports Management Diploma and an Introductory Coaching Certificate from the Central University of the Free State. He has been working with the Free State Sports Science Institute for the last five years and this year there was even more collaboration as the Institute helped with his preparations for the provincial finals.  “We work well together and their scientific approach to training and keeping the players in peak condition helped us win through to the nationals as I noted many of the other teams battled with stamina.  Now we have to keep the momentum going.”

                                                       

Defence has been the team’s strong point and in the 21 matches they’ve played in this competition they have only conceded 13 goals. Academic performance is a priority at the school, so preparations for the finals will only begin once the exams have been completed next week. “We are being careful with the amount of training the boys do as we don't want the players to burn out," Sani said. "My message to them is to take it easy and just enjoy the tournament. I believe the more they enjoy what they are doing, the more positive results they will get."

Sani is not sure how the school will be spending their winnings. "We are waiting to see how we go at the national finals before we decide."

Results:

FORMAT: ROUND ROBIN -GROUP MATCHES

GROUP A                                                       GROUP B

Dr Reginbald Cingo                                   Ipetleng SSS

Lere la Thuto                                               Mohato

THS Loius Botha                                          Harmony

Lere la Thuto   (0) VS  Loius Botha (8)

Lere La Thuto (0) VS  Dr Reginbald Cingo (7)

THS Louis Botha (4) VS  Dr Reginald Cingo (0)

Ipetleng (1)  VS  Mahato (1)

Ipetleng (0)  VS Harmony (4)

Mohato (0)   VS Harmony (0)

FINAL

HTS Loius Botha (0) 4  VS  Harmony (0) 2

WINNER:THS LOUIS BOTHA

RUNNER UP :HARMONY HIGH SCHOOL