Maritzburg United have saluted Edendale Technical High School for qualifying for the CAF African Schools finals on Monday in Malawi.
Edendale seized the girls section honours after topping the round robin stage following a 4-0 walkover past Mothamo JSS from Botswana.
HAILING THE GIRLS
The Team of Choice has released a statement to congratulate the girls’ team from KwaZulu Natal (KZN).
“Maritzburg United FC would like to congratulate our local school, Edendale Technical High School for clinching the CAF African Schools Championship (Under 15) in Malawi,” the statement reads.
KZN MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture Amanda Bani-Mapena has also joined the queue of those hailing the girls for their exploits.
“We hope this win will inspire the next generation of women footballers. Indeed, the future of Banyana Banyana looks bright,” Bani-Mapena said.
Edendale scooped gold for the girls’ championship for the Cosafa zonal qualifiers to seal their place at the continental finals.
Edendale owe their exploits to the brilliance of Mdelwa who top-scored for the girls section with seven goals at the tournament.
OVERAGED PLAYERS
Victoria Nkwala for Malindi Secondary School for the hosts won the Player of the Tournament crowd for the girls’ section and her team-mate Emily Maulidi won the Golden Glove.
Malindi were favourites for the championship but they were docked six points for fielding two overaged players.
South Africa’s dominance at the championship extended to the boys’ section.
Clapham High School bagged the boys’ championship after beating Salima Secondary School 1-0 in the final.
Sibusiso Tolomane scored Clapham’s solitary strike at Bingu National Stadium in Lilongwe.
Clapham had booked their place in the final after cruising past Angolans Rosinha 6-0 in the semifinal.
Kgaogelo Monanyane was Clapham’s standout performer after bagging a treble in the semifinal.
To cap it all, Monanyane will return to South Africa with the boys’ Player of the Tournament.
South Africa’s dominance continued with Clapham’s Kamogelo Phokela getting the Golden Glove accolade.
Salima booked a date against Clapham after easing to a 4-0 win over IQRA School from Comoros, thanks to a foursome from Isaac Bwanali.
