The 2019 Danone Nations Cup under way
THE 2019 Danone Nations Cup is in full swing with five provincial winners identified. Gauteng will be the last province to host its finals on June 7, in Germiston. In preparation for the provincials, schools across the province are participating in gruelling qualifiers.
The Johannesburg Primary Schools Football Association (JPSFA) will once again be holding a tournament with 20 schools registered to compete. Sacred Heart College in Observatory, will host the finals this year from Monday to Wednesday, from 2pm each day. Entrance is free. The winner on Wednesday will compete in the Gauteng provincial finals.
St David’s Marist are the current JPSFA champions and will be in action again this year under student coach, Thato Nkabinde, who is an ex pupil and has been coaching at the school for the past five years, while studying for his Business Management degree.
“I started coaching the under-12’s this year. We have only just started our soccer season, which is a disadvantage when entering such a big tournament. I have selected my squad, but this will need to be trimmed to 12, as per the Danone Nations Cup rules. Our first training session was this week, so I have not had time to finalise formations and strategies, but I know I have a potentially great team. I can’t say we will win this year, but the boys will put on an excellent display of football,” Nkabinde said.
Last year’s runners up, Heronbridge College, will also be back in action this year. Like St David’s, the soccer season has just started, but coach Vele Mbanjwa, is blessed with having many of last year’s boys back in action again. “I have a great team this year. Our star striker from last year is back in action and three of my players recently received a call-up to join the Far North Team. Our experienced boys are currently educating the youngsters on the enormity of this amazing, well-run competitive tournament.”
Vele, who is the physical education and sports educator, has just completed his Safa D, or introductory licence and the knowledge he has gained will make a difference in preparing the boys for the season.
“The course gives us important insight into the development of the youth and how to coach them at different ages,” he said.
A school that could prove tough to beat is Norwood Primary School. They competed in the tournament in 2017 but missed out last year. Coach and manager, Johannes Ledwaba, is an experienced youth coach with Belfour Park and has attended many coaching clinics arranged by his club. One being with international youth coaches from Arsenal Football Club in the UK.
“Our soccer season has just started but I have an excellent squad this year and feel confident they will put on a great performance. We have already competed in a couple of friendly matches, so we are ready.
My biggest challenge is that not all the players are able to make every training session due to transport problems. The Danone Nations Cup is an excellent tournament as it allows the players to prove themselves. There is a different dynamic when competing on a smaller field with fewer players. They all need to work hard. It exposes the hard workers and talented players. It is exciting.
The ultimate JPSFA winner will go on to compete in the Gauteng provincial final in Germiston with the champions there going on to represent the province in the national finals taking place at Reiger Park on Saturday, June 15.
The national winner will join 19 other countries at the world finals taking place in Spain. The teams will play their final match at the RCDE Stadium (home of La Liga club, Espanyol) in Barcelona, on October 12.