Bree Primary’s Danone Nations Cup journey begins in earnest

This is a culmination of a journey that started in January, this year, when over 2 000 schools registered to compete in the Danone Nations Cup, managed by the South African Schools Football Association.

The Bree players booked their tickets to Morocco with a convincing 2-0 win over the Free State’s Nelson Mandela Primary School, during the national finals, in Reiger Park, in June.

Danone Southern Africa gave the boys a send-off function that was attended by Gauteng MEC for Education Banyaza Lesufi, as well as the president of the South African Schools Football Association, Mandla ”Shoes” Mazibuko.

For Bree Primary School, who have previously won the national finals twice, including their most recent triumph in 2009, this was a dream come true.

“After winning the world title we have not managed to go beyond the provincial finals for the past five years,” said Bree Primary principal Dave Kalicharan.

“This year my coach, Bafana Dlamini, and I sat down and decided we were going to put together a team that would bring us back to the glory days — and that is what we did.

“We went on a recruitment drive to source a couple of extra players to boost our team and they joined the school this year. We have not put them under pressure, but have given them the drive to believe in themselves and encouraged them to dream big.”

There were 32 countries competing in the tournament and South Africa was drawn in a pool with Belgium, the Netherlands and Saudi Arabia.

Pool games take place on Friday, October 23, followed by a knockout phase to determine the pool results and who will compete in the finals on Sunday, October 25. – @SabeloBoksburg