A celebration of sportsmanship, leadership, and community spirit will be on the menu when lovers of choral music, netball, and football come together to mark this year’s editions of the ABC Motsepe SA Schools Choral Eisteddfod and the Kay Motsepe Schools Football and Netball Championships.
The eisteddfod will kick off the three community festivities on August 7 to 10 in Gauteng, the netball championship then takes place from August 15 to 17 in North West, and the football extravaganza closes it all off later in October on dates still to be announced.
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All three tournaments, considered the biggest of their kind, will see thousands of youngsters from more than 10 000 schools showcase their talents in celebrating sportsmanship, leadership, and community spirit, with whopping prize money of R11.75m at stake.
Speaking at a media briefing at the Sanlam offices in Sandton, who are partners, co-founder of the Motsepe Foundation and CEO Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe said the stage has been set for what promises to be an outstanding schools football and netball tournament and musical event.
Moloi-Motsepe, who is the wife of the other founder Dr Patrice Motsepe, praised Sanlam’s involvement in the tournaments and said it underscores the company’s commitment to youth empowerment and holistic long-term development.
“It is a beacon of hope and opportunity for our nation’s youth. We are thrilled to be involved in such a spectacle that offers students a platform to showcase their athletic prowess and talent, and cultivate essential life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and resilience,” Moloi-Motsepe said.
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CEO, SA Retail Mass at Sanlam Bongani Madikiza said there was a synergy between sports and achieving financial confidence. “Sport and finance may seem like different worlds, but Sanlam believes they share powerful parallels. Just as athletes set a goal, have a plan, and train relentlessly to achieve peak performance on the field, everyday South Africans, including the youth, work diligently to build financial confidence and resilience.”
Former Mamelodi Sundowns skipper Hlompho Kekana, who captained the side in one of its most successful times, said he was among the first batch of school players that participated in the soccer tournament when it was first launched more than 20 years ago, back when he was still in high school.
Another outstanding current Sundowns player Khuliso Mudau is also a product of the Kay Motsepe tournament and is considered one of the best wingers in the current Betway Premiership.
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