The
School of Excellence, based in Ekurhuleni, Gauteng, has been quiet for the past
few years as they struggled to get back to the winning days of the past when
players like Steven Pienaar attended. But this changed on Saturday when
the school was crowned the 2012 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup champions after
beating East High College of Excellence from Mpumalanga 6 – 5 on penalties.
The game was locked 2-all at the end of regulation time.
The
R1 million prize money – and the extra R100 000 the school won as
Gauteng provincial champions – has come at just the right time as long time
sponsors, Transnet, will no longer be helping to fund the school. Having
Khabo Zondo, a well-respected and experienced professional coach at the school
contributed to the team’s success.
“We
have worked hard over the past month to get on top form,” said Zondo.
“The boys didn’t even take the holiday break but stayed at school to train.
What pleased me the most about the National Finals was the high standard of
football. Furthermore, there are an increasing number of Academies
opening which can only be good for South African football.”
The
school further took home three individual awards: Mbulelo Ngcobe (Best
Goal Keeper), Stanley Muishond (Top Goal Scorer – 6 goals) and Paseka Sekebe
(Player of the Tournament).
Sekebe
was excited to have been named the ‘Player of the Tournament’. He is
hoping that one of the scouts that attended the tournament will offer him a
contract as his greatest ambition is to play at the highest level of the
game. Although he stressed that he would like to continue studying after
school (as he wants to be a successful businessman one day) as well as open his
own academy to help develop more players so that South Africa will be a top
football playing country like Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Italy and the likes.
East
High coach, Petrus Ndlovu, was happy to make it to the National Finals and
says this was a learning curve for him and he will be back next year, with most
of the same squad. He believes East High will win the second time around.
“This is our second outing in this tournament. Last year we didn’t make
it to the National Finals and it was my priority to do well in 2012. I
then selected my key four players and went out to find players to beef up the
squad. Most of the squad will be back next year as I have a two year
strategy.
East
High team captain, Lebohang Maphanga, is happy to have won R700 000 (i.e.
R600 000 for second place and R100 000 as provincial champions) for
the school: “I have been with the school for four years and will now
focus on my final exams as I want to do well to be able to go to Wits next year
and study for my chartered accounting degree. Through the money I helped win
for the school I have left a legacy behind which I am proud of.”
The
Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup National Finals lived up to expectations as an
exciting and entertaining football development tournament. “Sanlam
understands the value of development and the opportunity it gives youngsters to
achieve what they hope for,” said Frank Louw, Sponsorship Manager at Sanlam.
“We believe that the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup creates opportunities that
have a positive impact on the youth, and provides exposure to scouts for
talented players. This National Finals achieved the objectives and I am
confident that a number of the players from this tournament will become high
profile names in the near future.”
In
the other games of the day Rosina Sedibane – Modiba Sports School beat
Harmony High School 1 – 0 to finish in third position winning
R500 000 while Harmony clinched fourth position winning R400 000 and
R100 000 as Free State provincial champions.
FINAL
RESULTS
THIRD/FOURTH
PLAY-OFF
Rosina
Sedibane – Modiba Sports School 1 v Harmony High School 0
GOAL:
Thabang Konaite
FINAL
School
of Excellence (2) 6 v East High (2) 5
Goals:
SOE: Richard Moremi, Aubrey Modiba
Goals:
East High: Muzi Thabotha, Khulekani Mashego
INDIVIDUAL
PRIZE WINNERS
Best
Goal Keeper: Mbulelo Ngcobe (School of Excellence)
Top
Goal Scorer: Stanley Muishond 6 Goals (School of Excellence)
Player
of the tournament : Paseka Sekebe (School of Excellence)
Coach
of the tournaments: Petrus Ndlovu (East High College of Excellence)
Fair
Play Award: Gaopalelwe Secondary School from North West
FINAL
POSITIONS
|
POSITION
|
SCHOOL
|
|
1
|
School
of Excellence (GP) R1 million + R100 000 as Provincial Champions
|
|
2
|
East
High (MP) R600 000 + R100 000 as Provincial Champions
|
|
3
|
Rosina
(GP) (R500 00)
|
|
4
|
Harmony
High (FS) (R400 000) + R100 000 as Provincial Champions
|
|
5
|
Steenberg
Secondary School (WC) R100 000 as Provincial Champions
|
|
6
|
Ezibukweni
High School (KZN) R100 000 as Provincial Champions
|
|
7
|
Lingilihle
Secondary School (EC) R100 000 as Provincial Champions
|
|
8
|
Mmamoka
Secondary School (LP)
|
|
9
|
Lindile
Seconadry School (PM)
|
|
10
|
Dr
Reginald Cingo Comprehensive School (FS)
|
|
11
|
Emtshezi
Secondary School (KZN)
|
|
12
|
Cloestesville
Secondary School (WC)
|
|
13
|
Rietvale
High School (NC) R100 000 as Provincial
Champions
|
|
14
|
Mnceba
Secondary School (EC)
|
|
15
|
Benny
Care Sports Academy (LP) R100 000 as Provincial
Champions
|
|
16
|
Sol
Plaatje Secondary School (NW) R100 000 as Provincial Champions
|
|
17
|
Gaopalelwe
Secondary School (WC)
|
|
18
|
Langberg
Secondary School (NC)
|
