The Kay Motsepe Schools Championship national finals ignited the Bergsig Academy on September 28 when Gauteng, Limpopo and the Western Cape emerged victorious, claiming top honours in their divisions.
Champions crowned.
The Queenswood Laerskool U13 boys represented Gauteng well when they claimed the U13 boys national champions title after their 2-1 victory against St Anness Primary School.
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Following them were the Western Cape’s Lwazi Primary, which won 5-0 against Mamontoeng Primary from the Eastern Cape in the U13 girls’ division.
Curro Northen Academy from Limpopo beat the North West side, Eletsa Secondary School, 2-1, claiming the U19 champions title.
The champions and runners-up took home a staggering R8.6m in cash prizes, which will boost the development of their schools’ sports infrastructure.
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Coaches corner
Curro Northen Academy’s coach, Mukwevho Hendrick, said their strategy and tactics varied depending on the game.
“We discovered in the final that the team was as slick as the previous squad, which allowed us to attack swiftly and develop from behind.
“After noticing the opposition was rattled at the back, we applied pressure with our header to score the opening goal.”
Queenswood Laerskool’s coach, Lunga Nobela, said their triumph is noteworthy because the school did not play football and instead concentrated on rugby and cricket.
“This year, football was introduced. Naturally, the award we received means we should return and begin construction on football facilities,” Nobela remarked.
The head coach at Lwazi Primary School, Xolile Madikane, noted that the competition became harder when teams advanced from the cluster level to the district, provincial, and nations.
He said this was a significant accomplishment for their neighbourhood that would brighten the community and the school.
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“I’m sure everyone in the community is out there playing drums, but I’m not sure what will happen when a group of 13-year-olds brings a million people into the community,” he said.
Madikane highlighted the infrastructure challenges, saying the school hires the field for their league games.
“The school field is there but not in excellent condition. When the players try playing there, they risk injuring their knees and ankles.
“We would be thrilled to have a decent sports field, and maybe we could generate something larger than what we witnessed today.”
A celebration of youth development
The Kay Motsepe Schools Championship, supported by Sanlam and the Motsepe Foundation, in collaboration with the South African Football Association and the Department of Basic Education, fosters leadership, community involvement and youth development. Over 13 000 school teams participate annually, showcasing their talents and acquiring vital life skills.
Prizes
The U19 champion, Curro Northen Academy, won a R3m cash prize, gold medals and a trophy.
The U13 boys and girls champions, Lwazi Primary and Queenswood Laerskool, won R1m, gold medals and a trophy.
