Massive win for high school
Ndzondelelo High scooped the R100,000 grand prize when they walked away as the Eastern Cape champions of the provincial soccer Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup U19 finals at Bunkers Hill Stadium in East London over the weekend.
Ndzondelelo, representing Nelson Mandela Bay, were crowned the champions after a 0-0 stalemate against Khanya Senior Secondary, from Alfred Nzo, ended in a 4-2 penalty shoot-out.
The other schools competing were Executive Academy from Amathole, Sikhulile Senior Secondary from Buffalo City Metro, Free Mantle Boys High from Chris Hani, Tlokweng Senior Secondary from Joe Gqabi, St Johns from OR Tambo and Kuyasa Combined School from Sarah Baartman.
Provincial co-ordinator of Provincial SA Football Association schools football committee, Sandile Nowalaza, said Ndzondelelo and Khanya would represent the province at the nationals in October.
“We are not sure where the nationals will be played at this stage, but all eight districts of the Eastern Cape were represented in this tournament and we are very happy how everything went,” Nowalaza said.
“In order to make sure that this prize money gets to where it's directed, which is development, Ndzondelelo will submit a wish list instead of getting the money.
“The Motsepe Foundation will buy them what they have requested, so congratulations to them for a good performance and to all the teams that took part in the tournament.
“Whatever Ndzondelelo High decides to choose in their wish list should be relevant to the school, and at the nationals the stakes are even higher because they will competing for a R1m first prize, the second prize is R600,000, the third prize is R500,000, and the fourth prize is R400 000. So that means if they manage to finish at least in the fourth position, they will benefit even more from the tournament,” said Nowalaza.
However, Nowalaza said one challenge that they had faced during the tournament was a lack of communication from the schools’ technical teams, which had “misled” some of their players.
“There were schools which had players born in 1999, whereas the cut-off date is 2000–2002 for those who are eligible to play. But we will try to monitor our regional coordinators to make sure that the kids don't get disappointed because they are just kids and they didn’t realise this,” said Nowalaza.