Matome Lebea

Matome Lebea

Pondo and Mochichi primary schools will represent Limpopo in the national Under-14 championships of the South African Schools Football World Cup next year after their weekend victories.

The girls' and boys' provincial championships were held at Nirvana Stadium in Polokwane on Saturday.

Goals by Hope Kekana and Helen Ramokgorane secured Mochichi, from Waterberg, a place in the girls' national championships after they pipped Leweng from Capricorn 2-0 in the final.

Pondo, from Mopani district, had an easy run to the boys' final after they clobbered Moteti from Sekhukhune 7-1 in a one-sided semifinal before they beat Njabeya from Vhembe 3-2 in the final.

The Tzaneen school meant business from the opening minute of the match, attacking from all angles, but they were stunned when Njabeya took the lead in the 5th minute through Njabulo Nevhulaudzi.

But Pondo showed great fighting spirit and were rewarded when Masingitha Shabangu levelled the score in the 10th minute, and so it stayed until half time.

Pondo came out strongly in the second half and, as expected, Benedict Mhlongo put his side in the lead, netting his third goal of the tournament after he scored twice against Motedi in the semifinal.

Surprise Mashaba sealed his club's victory in the 34th minute. Nevhulaudzi completed his brace in the 60th minute.

"We will keep the players in good shape through a series of friendly matches," Patrick Baloyi, Pondo's coach, told Sowetan yesterday.

"We will also require assistance from the regional and provincial coaches of the South African Football Association."

The provincial championships for secondary schools will be held on October 18 at Seshego Stadium.