Bon Voyage, Volkswagen Junior Masters team
JOBURG - Volkswagen SA Junior Masters football team was given a resounding send-off to Europe.
A team of 14 boys comprising players from Alexandra and greater Johannesburg were given a fond bon voyage as they jetted out of South Africa to Paris in France to represent their country in the Volkswagen Junior Masters World Tournament.
The send-off was held at the head office of Volkswagen South Africa in Sandton on 11 May, and soon after the farewell, the boys and their two coaches, head coach Lebogang Ndebele and his assistant, Marks ‘Mocks’ Maseko left to board their plane.
Playing under the banner of Hatfield VW, the team won the South African leg of the competition which took place last year in December at Wits University.
They will now represent Volkswagen South Africa at the 21-team global showpiece in the City of Love, beginning on 13 to 16 May where they will meet teams from top football countries such as Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Netherlands, Spain, France and the USA.
The squad comprises players from Wanderers Warriors, Highlands Park, and Real Madrid in Alexandra which talented MC Weiler Primary School pupil, Dineo ‘Waka-Waka’ Ntsimane plays for. He is also part of the junior development side of Highlands Park.
Ntsimane, a Grade 6 pupil who is a no stranger to flying, having taken part in the Cordial Cup tournament in Germany in June 2013, will be joined by another teammate at Real Madrid, Tshepang ‘Computer’ Mabokela, a Grade 7 pupil at Iphutheng Primary School.
Equally excited about the trip and going to play in Europe was team goalkeeper and King Edward pupil, Lliam Cothill, who has also been in the junior development side of SuperSport United.
Cothill is credited by coach Ndebele as the keeper who propelled the squad to win the final of the local leg of the Volkswagen Junior Masters World Tournament and got the boys packing their bags for Paris with his heroic goalkeeping skills.
Details: Andile Dlamini 011 911 2726; dlami03@vwsa.co.za
