Thulani Secondary School was crowned champions of the annual 2017 Investec Soccer League for a second time in a row.
Thulani brushed aside Lamula Secondary School 1–0 at the AW Muller Fields at the University of Johannesburg’s Bunting Campus on 9 September.
The league kicked off in April with 20 high schools, and with each of the four finalists guaranteed to walk away with the handsome prize money, the competition was set to be as fierce as it can get.
The winner was guaranteed to walk away with R90 000, the losers with R60 000, the third with R40 000 and the fourth with R30 000. Motivated by the big bucks on offer, the boys performed to the best of their abilities on the biggest stage of their lives.
Adding further motivation for the boys to perform and impress was the presence of four-time Premier Soccer League championship winning coach, Gavin Hunt of Bidvest Wits and his skipper Thulani Hlatshwayo.
As the 2016 league winners, Thulani used its winnings to buy a printer and photocopying machine; a PA system; washing machines; a security hut; a fridge and stove; fencing; various sports equipment; stationery; laptops and monitors and rehabilitated their soccer fields.
Investec head of CSI, Setlogane Manchidi said the league was about developing the future superstars, whether in the boardroom or on the field. “It’s exciting to see how competitive these teams were, giving their best instead of giving up. It’s inspirational and certainly the spirit with which South Africa should approach each and every one of its challenges.”
Read: PSL congratulates Absa Premiership champs, Bidvest Wits
