Exciting moments at the Danone Nations Cup finals
OBSERVATORY – The final was a hard-fought match where both teams had their chances.
The Johannesburg Primary Schools Football Association (JPSFA) competition of the Danone Nations Cup qualifying tournament at Sacred Heart College earlier this month saw 20 schools vying for a spot in the Gauteng finals.
The winners of the competition, King’s School Robin Hills from Randburg, will join other Gauteng schools at the Danone Nations Cup Gauteng finals on 7 June at the Germiston Stadium to find out which school will represent the province in the national finals which will be held on 15 June at WJ Clements Stadium in Reiger Park.
King’s School finished top of their log and beat Bryneven Primary from Sandton 3–1 in the semi-final, sending them through to the final where they were up against Hurleyvale Primary. Hurleyvale drew their semi-final match against the Deutsche Internasionale Schule from Parktown 1–1 and went through on penalties.
The final match didn’t start off well for King’s School when their goalkeeper suffered an injury in the first few minutes of the game and had to be taken off.
“That was tough,” admitted coach Kgabo Ditsebe. “I had to make changes to the team. I told the boys to play their best for their goalkeeper, and they did exactly that. When the game ended the boys ran straight to him and which showed that they play as a team and not as individuals.”
After the upset with their goalkeeper, the team went from strength to strength scoring the first goal of the match immediately after the injury.
Hurleyvale fought hard and equalised half-way through the match. From there both teams had their chances, but it was The King’s School who scored again just before the end.
Ditsebe said the King’s School competed in the tournament last year and 10 of their players were back this year, which was an advantage. “It wasn’t easy, every school has the same goal and that is to win and go through to the next round.
“I’m not sure what to expect from the provincials and will put my preparation plan in place immediately.
“It’s a new challenge, we are the first group from the school to get to the next stage of the tournament and it would be a dream come true if we went to the national finals and even represent the country in Barcelona in October.”
Details: Danone Nations Cup www.facebook.com/DNCSouthAfrica
Related article:
https://northeasterntribune.co.za/226142/jacoba-aim-high/
