DNC invites schools to register for world soccer tourney
Joburg – Players need only their birth certificates and a willingness to participate.
Danone Nations Cup organisers have announced the opening of registrations for next year’s edition of one of the world’s largest soccer development tournaments for schoolchildren.
The tournament caters for children aged between 10 and 12 years old across the country and involves more than two million children annually.
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Schools are invited to register their teams for the 19th edition of this tournament taking place in October next year. The tournament is the brainchild of Danone, producer of dairy products, and is run in partnership with the South African Schools Football Association (Sasfa).
Games begin at cluster level and the winning schools then progress to regional and later provincial levels, culminating in the national finals where the national champion team that will represent the country at the Danone Nations Cup world finals is decided.
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Last year, more than 2 700 schools registered to play in the initial rounds of the tournament, which is the most to have registered in the history of the tournament in this country. This year for the first time, schools belonging to Sasfa joined the tournament and the association is expected to grow substantially next year.
Sasfa’s Themba Tshabalala invites schools that are interested to register with registrations closing at the end of January next year.
Tshabalala said participation in the tournament was free. “The only thing required is the willingness to participate,” he added.
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“The incentive here is that it’s all expenses paid to travel and play on the global soccer stage. We are not yet sure about the venue of the finals but suggestions indicate that it might be somewhere in the east African countries.”
Tshabalala added that the tournament attracted soccer scouts from various corners of the world.
Details: thembatshabalala@saschoolsfa.co.za or 072 588 4957
