The highly-anticipated Kay Motsepe Schools Championship National Football Finals are set to culminate in a thrilling finale on Saturday, September 28th, at the Bergsig Academy in Rustenburg.
Provincial champions from across the country have been competing since September 24th, with only two teams remaining in each division: Under-19 Boys, U-13 Boys, and U-13 Girls.
Over the past few days, this prestigious tournament has showcased exceptional talent and competitive spirit, with teams displaying remarkable skill and determination.
The final day promises to be an unforgettable spectacle as the best young footballers in South African schools compete for the ultimate prize.
The main event of the day will be the U-19 Boys final between Eletsa Secondary from North West and Northern Academy from Limpopo, kicking off at 13:30. Both teams have had impressive runs throughout the tournament, topping their respective groups and advancing through the knockout stages. The champion in the U-19 Boys division will receive R3 million in infrastructure development.
In a historic milestone, the Kay Motsepe Schools Championship is hosting its first-ever U-13 Boys and Girls national finals.
Lwazi Primary School from the Western Cape and Mamontoeng Primary School from the Eastern Cape are the inaugural finalists in the U-13 Girls division.
KAY MOTSEPE FINALS SET FOR SATURDAY
Lwazi Primary displayed exceptional dominance throughout the tournament, scoring seven goals in two group-stage matches and comfortably defeating Sidunge Primary School of KwaZulu-Natal 3-0 in the semi-finals.
Mamontoeng Primary School reached the final after a thrilling 3-2 victory over Nkabinda Primary School in their semi-final match.
Nkabinda Primary School, despite scoring the most goals in a single game (6), fell short in the end.
Meanwhile, in the U-13 Boys division, Queenswood Laerskool from Gauteng will take on St Annes Primary School from the Free State in a battle for the national title and the R1 million prize.
Both teams have showcased impressive performances throughout the tournament, reaching the final after victories in their respective semi-finals.
DIKGALE SEES BRIGHT FUTURE DESPITE SEMI-FINAL DEFEAT
At the end of the day on Friday, Jacob Dikgale, coach of the Northern Academy U-13 team, expressed his satisfaction despite losing in the semi-finals.
He praised his players’ efforts and thanked the tournament organizers and CAF president Patrice Motsepe for providing such a valuable platform for young athletes via his foundation.
“We lost, but we lost to a good team I’m proud of my boys as they did well, and thanks to the sponsors for giving us this platform to show our talent. The tournament is big, and it gives our children a sense of belonging, and it helps us to develop players, and some of the players can go far,” he said.
“I’m looking forward to a great final in all divisions tomorrow. May the best schools win and improve their schools for the better. We thank the Motsepe Foundation and Sanlam for such an opportunity to give our kids a platform to be spotted and be the next big stars. I’m confident that a few players will play for big teams in the future and tomorrow’s final.”
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