LIMPOPO – Benny’s Care Sports Development and Academy returned home after a successful 2016 Danone Nations Cup World Final where they finished in 14th place overall with 32 countries competing in France, being South Africa’s best finish since 2009 when they won the tournament.
Benny’s managed to finish second in their group after beating South Korea 1-0, Italy (the first all-girls team to compete in the finals) 3-0, but losing to Indonesia 1-0.
The second round was tough with the team facing Brazil in their first top 16 game. After losing 1-0 they were fighting for position nine to 16.
They then faced a strong Tunisian team that were far bigger and stronger than the Limpopo boys. After an early goal, the South Africans fought back hard but failed to get the ball past a very agile goalkeeper, leaving the boys fighting for position 13 to 16. The penultimate match of the tournament saw the Limpopo outfit running onto the field next to Uruguay, arguably the tallest boys in the 2016 world finals.
They refused to let the height of their opponents intimidate them and outplayed them completely, winning 2-1 and progressing to meet Russia in their final match for 13th and 14th position. This game was played at the Stade de France.
After conceding an early goal, Benny’s Care fought hard and pulled one back to finish level one 1-1.
However, the more composed European counterparts proved better in the penalty shootout and won the game 3-1. On their return to South Africa, coach Mbishi Mokwena said the game against Brazil was undoubtedly their toughest. “The world finals were also a learning experience and the way the Brazilians used the field was an eye-opener and very interesting to watch.
“We were lucky to lose by such a narrow margin and our goalkeeper, Hulisani Mashau, had a cracker of a game,” he said. He added they went back to the drawing board after that game and used Brazil’s tactics against Uruguay and it worked in their favour.
Mokwena explained that it was the game against Italy that took the youngsters by surprise. “It was the first all-girls team that has ever played at the world finals. We had been warned that the girls were going to be taller and stronger than us, which was the case, and they were academy girls from the famous Italian Club, AS Roma, so we were expecting a tougher challenge which did not turn out to be the case. However, I have to admit there were a couple of girls that were exceptionally skilled with the ball.
“They showed us a few amazing shibobos that left our boys standing,” said Mokwena.
Germany was the ultimate winner of the competition after beating Japan 3-1 on penalties at the legendary Stade de France in Paris, with Spain beating Brazil 2-1 to finish the third and fourth places respectively.
Both the German and Japanese teams were selected through a trial process meaning their teams comprised the top u/12 players in their respective countries. The same process was used to finalise many of the other teams as well. A far cry from the South African boys who play school soccer on a dusty soccer field in the rural Vhembe district in Limpopo. To have finished 14th was a great feat for the boys.
Mokwena said international teams and media had new respect for them after seeing a video of their school, soccer field and area they are from, this had other teams cheering the for the Lim boys.
