Bree Primary hopes to relive their 2008 Danone Nations Cup successor Bree Primary School going for glory

The 2008 Danone Nations Cup world title holder, Bree Primary School, is through to the Gauteng provincial finals of the 2015 competition and the team is ready to regain their former glory.

The finals will be the WJ Clements Stadium in Reiger Park on June 13.

Their team manager and principal of the school, Devanand Kalicharran, explains that they have virtually the same team which entered the competition last year, and their performances in the competition so far have shown that they have benefitted greatly from the experience they picked up.

“Last year we simply did not score enough goals,“ he said. “We drew two games and only won one at the provincials and were eliminated. Now we have played eleven games and won them all.

“The team has a much better attitude, they are more mature and confident and we are well prepared. We are participating in local leagues and in different soccer tournaments so the players have been able to get a lot of game time, which has made them bond as a team.”

According to Kalicharran, the school’s track record in the competition has made them a target. “Every school that we play, from cluster level up, see us a threat and want to prove that they can beat us. But we have an edge over the other teams, we have been at this level before and we know what to expect.”

Goal-scoring was a problem last year, but the team’s strikers, Lunga Nonkelela and Tshepo Baitshumedi, are in good form. Both have scored six goals so far and Kalicharran sees them as key players for the team. “Our goalkeeper, Mncedisi Nguse, has also grown greatly and we have three good defenders in Ntando Simayele, Kgomolemo Dladla and Tsegofatso Ikge.”

Kalicharran said that coaching and managing kids is tough. “They are easily demotivated and it’s my job to make sure that when they start feeling that way I quickly get them back up.

The school has maintained its relationship with Orlando Pirates from the South and still supplies players to their youth academy. They are also associated with Stars of Africa Football Academy. They regularly visit the school and check out the talent.

The Gauteng provincial contenders are:

Bree Primary School-JHB North District.

Sonqoba Primary School-Ekurhuleni South District.

Nancefield Primary School- JHB Central District.

Sikhulisile Primary School- Gauteng North District.

Michael Mkhwanazi Primary School- Gauteng East District.

Christian Progressive College- Tshwane West District.

Tsumbedzo Primary School – JHB West District.

Acorn Park Primary School-Sedibeng District.