Discovery Cup finals postponed due to bad lighting
Bad lighting forces the postponement of the last three fixtures in Discovery Knockout Schools finals.
The anticipated Discovery Knockout Schools finals took an unexpected turn as the last three fixtures had to be postponed because of poor lighting conditions.
Saheti School was this year’s host on June 22.
The postponed matches included the U12 boys of Saheti and King David Linksfield, meant to be played at 17:00 on the day, followed by Bryneven Primary School and Saheti U14 girls, scheduled for 18:10 and Kyalami and Christ Church U13 boys that were due to play at 19:10.
A new date to play these matches is yet to be confirmed.
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Bedfordview Primary and King David Linksfield U10 boys kicked off the finals and played to a draw of three points.
Discovery’s head of sponsorships and experiential marketing, Deon Curtis, said 64 schools across various age groups for both girls and boys participated in the tournament.
Curtis explained the programme gives children opportunities to showcase their talent, reach new heights, and achieve beyond their regular school teams.
“Aligned with Discovery’s corporate purpose of making people healthier, this initiative encourages physical activity from a young age and emphasises the importance of play in an active lifestyle.
“The programme aims to create pathways and structures that allow children to enjoy themselves while staying active and happy.
“We attempt to recruit as many schools in the Johannesburg area as possible,” said Curtis.
He added by involving primary schools of varying age groups the program aims to provide hope and inspiration to anyone, regardless of their abilities or gender, and encourage them to pursue their dreams.
Saheti’s head of sport for their primary school, Warren Metzer, said the competition began in the first week of May with 408 teams.
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Over time, they whittled the number down through group stages and the last teams competing for the trophy.
The tournament has been a thrilling journey for the teams.
Alexander Coetzer, assistant coach of the U10 Bedfordview soccer team, expressed his joy in reaching the finals, mentioning their overall performance and teamwork secured them a place in the final match.
He commended the team’s collective effort and multiple standout players who played a vital role in their success.
Schools interested in participating in future tournaments can reach out to Discovery or the Johannesburg Primary Schools Football Association (JPSFA).
