JOHANNESBURG – Benny’s Care Academy from Vhembe Region continued to make a name for themselves as the football powerhouse in COPA Coca-Cola® schools tournament.
The school was crowned Limpopo COPA Coca-Cola® provincial winners for the sixth consecutive time, after beating Hudson Ntswanwisi High School from Capricorn region 1-0 in the final match.
The games took place in Makhuvha Stadium, Thohoyandou, on Saturday, 13 September 14.
Following a rocky start, losing 2 – 0 to Bjatladi Secondary School, Benny’s Care Academy were not tipped to win the competition, but the players seemed to have taken up the challenge and from the second game of the day they showed confidence and determination and fought hard to make it to the final.
According to team manager Justice Matloga the win is due to hard work and focus. “We believe in consistency, and that comes from working hard together,”Matloga says. “After losing our first game, the morale was a bit down, but I told the boys to focus, keep their heads up and that it was not yet over. Going in to the second game, we fielded a couple old players, which were part of the team last year in the starting XI, hence the good results.”
Matloga says they have analysed their strength and believe they have a solid defence and strong captain in striker Albert Mutavha. “He is good and very fast on the field; he has ball control, discipline and a great attitude towards soccer. We will be building on those strengths in preparation of the national finals.”
Benny’s Care Academy took home a trophy and gold medals as the provincial winner and will join join Robinvale Secondary School (Western Cape), SA Van Wyk High School (Northern Cape), Slindokuhle Secondary School (KwaZulu Natal), Sikhulile Secondary School (Eastern Cape), Clapham High School (Gauteng) and Thlavekisa Secondary School (Mpumalanga) at the National Finals to be held at the King Zwelithini Stadium in KwaZulu-Natal on October 17-19 2014.
The ultimate winning school of the 2014 COPA Coca-Cola® football tournament will walk away with the honour of being named the 2014 champion as well as R60 000 to be used towards the development of their school’s educational or sporting facilities.
The second and third place winners will also receive R30 000 and R25 000 respectively.
RESULTS
GROUP A
GAME SCHOOL SCORE
VS SCORE SCHOOL
1 Bjatladi Secondary School 2 0 Benny’s Sports Academy School
3 Benny’s Sports Academy School 2 (4 pen) 0 (3 pen) Bjatladi Secondary School
GROUP B
GAME SCHOOL SCORE
VS SCORE SCHOOL
2 Hudson Ntsanwisi HS 1 0 Manoke High School
4 Manoke High School 1 3 Hudson Ntsanwisi HS
FINAL
GAME SCHOOL SCORE VS SCORE SCHOOL
5 Benny’s Sports Academy School 1 0 Hudson Ntsanwisi HS
