With the 2016 u.12 Danone Nations Cup registration period now closed, the spotlight falls on how the teams are preparing for the upcoming games. The ultimate winner will represent South Africa at the world finals to be held in France this year at a venue and date still to be announced.
Having the correct coaching staff is key to any team’s success for a number of reasons; firstly to be able to select the best players and this does not necessarily mean the player with the best skills, but the player who is also able to think quickly and make decisions as well. Secondly, this age is crucial in terms of helping players understand and interpret the rules of the games correctly and teach them how to play as a team as opposed to an individual.
This is according to Keutsepilemang Ndebele, who will be coaching Cambridge Academy from eMalahleni, in Mpumalanga.
“Kids at this age are inclined to chase the ball as opposed to playing strategically.”
Cambridge Academy is a private school celebrating its 18th birthday this year. There are 500 learners in the school and soccer was introduced into the sports curriculum last year.
Ndebele has an impressive soccer resume. He has been the technical coach for a team in Zimbabwe called Rail Stars FC and studied at the Brazilian Football Academy where former Brazil and Bafana Bafana national coach Carlos Alberto Parrerira was one of the instructors.
He also has a coaching license from the English Football Association, and a Namibia CAF coaching qualification. He runs his own soccer academy.
Ndebele believes the Danone Nations Cup is a great platform for soccer development and acknowledges that Danone does great work in nurturing the minds and bodies of children through the tournament.
“It is also important to ensure the kids have fun,” said Ndebele.
“This is the age when kids develop their love for the game and it is important to teach good habits and instil correct techniques that will help them throughout their soccer careers. It’s about growing. Every child has a competitive side and wants to be recognised. This tournament helps nurture that competitive nature and it builds confidence.”
As this will be the school’s first experience in the competition the coach will be using this platform as a learning and growing experience. The school has not had much match practice and they are not sure how many of the 21 schools in the district have entered the competition, but their focus will be on the team and how they work together as a whole unit.
