St Marks step up their game a notch in nationals

Having lost-out in the semi-finals of the last year’s Copa Coca-Cola Cup National Championships, Mbombela-based St Marks High School, formerly known as East High Academy, went a step further in this year’s finals when they were unfortunately beaten 2-0 by KwaZulu-Natal based JG Zuma Secondary School in the final.
The nail-biting and entertaining final match was held at Tempe Sports Grounds at Bloemfontein in the Free State recently.
Despite losing in the final, the Mpumalanga representatives were praised for their outstanding effort in the final as they created numerous chances at trying to find the back of the net.
Although they did not score any goals in the final, East High’s performance served as an encouragement that future stars from the province can play in a professional
football set-up.
St Marks coach, Sibusiso Chiloane said their runner-up position was an achievement for them as a school.
“Last year we came third and this year second. That is an achievement in itself. It shows that there is something we learners from our last year participation in the tournament. Next year, we are eying to be crowned national champions,” said they young decorated coach, Chiloane.
For finishing as a runner-up, East High walked away with R30 000 cash, which can be used towards the development of their school’s educational or sport facilities. They also received a silver trophy and medals.
The champions JG Zuma received R60 000 in cash prize, gold trophy and medals. The host school HTS Louis Botha finished in third place and received R25 000 in cash, a bronze cup and medals.
Are-Fadimeheng from North-West finished fourth, Zamokuhle Junior Secondary (Western Cape) secured a fifth place while Desmond Impilo Tutu High School (Eastern Cape) came sixth.
Orion High School (Northern Cape) were seventh, Haggai Combined School (Limpopo) came eighth and lastly Rosina Sedibane High School representing Gauteng completed the provinces in ninth place.