Metropolitan Cup back with a bang

The annual Metropolitan SASFA U16 Cup is back again with more play time for township teams.

In its fifth year running, the tournament will start on December 4 and has grown to be bigger and better than the past years by identifying and nurturing the football talent and the championship itself has become one of prestigious titles in national school sport.

Last year’s champions, Rosina Sedibane High School qualified to represent South Africa at the International School Sports Federation world championships in France, where they competed against some of the world’s top schools.

The tournament itself has produced players who are now plying their trades at professional level.

The players include Bloemfontein Celtic’s Lerato Manzini and Thabo Moloi of Supersport United. SASFA president, Mandla ‘Shoes’ Mazibuko said soccer is vital to any potential success so it is important to create the best possible conditions to realise their objectives.

“It is through the vision of partners such as Metropolitan whose investment in the early stages of a long term process enables us to obtain the rewards on a sustainable basis for generations to come,” he said.

The format of the competition comprises of three phases prior to the national playoffs which are zonal, regional and provincial phases.

The zonal segment consists of a round robin league where teams fight to get maximum points to qualify for regionals. In the regional phase, the top two teams that will emerge from each district are divided into 52 regions where they compete in a knockout competition for qualification to the provincial phase.

Then the provincial winners play in the national finals. Participating schools include the Sanlam Kay Motsepe campaigners, Benny’s Care, Matsambu High, Buthathubunye High, Emthonjeniwolwazi High, Gatelapele, Tiger Kloof, Louis Botha, NTSU High, Kakamas, Gamohana High, School of Excellence, Johannesburg Secondary, Zamokuhle JSS, Charles Morgan Tikhontele High and Zendeling.