8th edition of McDonald’s U14 Schools League launches
JOBURG - McDonald's South Africa U14 Schools League launches at the FNB Stadium.
The 8th edition of the McDonald’s U14 Schools League, a legacy project of the South Africa 2010 Fifa World Cup, was launched at the FNB Stadium outside Soweto.
The tournament begins on 5 August with Limpopo hosting Mpumalanga while Gauteng will host North West on 12 August, at venues still to be determined.
Free State will host KwaZulu-Natal on 26 August while Eastern Cape will host Northern Cape and the Western Cape on 9 September, at venues to be announced.
Dubbed as the ‘Small teams, Big dream’ as its theme, the tournament’s national finals will take place from 5 to 7 October at a venue yet to be announced.
Speaking at the launch, McDonald’s chief marketing officer, Daniel Padiachy said the theme resonated well with what the tournament was meant to achieve. “We’re starting off with small boys and small teams but with ambitions and dreams of being in big teams. We’re turning the sod of their future prosperity in the beautiful game, so they can fly and shine on the bigger stage,” Padiachy said.
He made reference to current Premier Soccer League players who had come through the tournament’s ranks such as Bidvest Wits’ Phakamani Mahlambi and Sibongakonke Mbatha, and Mamelodi Sundowns midfield general Teko Modise.
“They have all come through the ranks of the tournament. When you see these stars dazzling the stage of the Premier Soccer League, you start to appreciate that this tournament is truly a ‘small teams, big dream’ programme where determination and hard work offers young people a great opportunity they wouldn’t have otherwise had.”
SA Schools Football association president Mandla ‘Shoes’ Mazibuko expressed his gratitude to McDonald’s South Africa for its dedication in the development of grassroots football, saying this year’s edition will be a ‘continuation of years of tremendous work in producing stars of tomorrow today, to shine in the national and global stage of football’.
Read:Â McDonalds assigns football legends to work with schools around South Africa
Have you registered your school team and look forward to the journey to the finals? WhatsApp your views on 079 439 5345.
