Meshack Khotha

Meshack Khotha

Meadowlands High School will be out to prove that Gauteng really is the "Home of Champions" in the lucrative Kay Motsepe Cup.

The Soweto side will be contesting the title with eight other provincial champions in the national playoffs scheduled for Mamelodi from Thursday until Saturday.

Empukweni High School from Witbank in Mpumalanga were the overall winners in 2006.

The competition was suspended last year because of the public servants' strike, which also involved teachers.

Jabu Marasela, Meadowlands' manager and assistant coach, said they are looking forward to representing the province with dignity.

"We are ready for the showpiece and itching to reclaim the trophy that was scooped by Empukweni in 2006," Marasela said.

The inaugural tournament, bankrolled by Mamelodi Sundowns boss Patrice Motsepe, was won by Bophelo Private School from Johannesburg in its inception in 2005.

"My boys have been hard at training throughout the school holidays and have vigorously worked on their stamina and polishing the final touches.

"We only gave them a break last week to spend the remaining days with their families ahead of the potentially exciting national tournament," Marasela added.

The team boasts a number of players from Kaizer Chiefs' development ranks in their fold, but Marasela attributed their progress to the final to discipline and communication.

"Reputations at school count for nothing in my team. And that has worked wonders for coach Sipho Nxumalo and his troops.

"Here at school, we treat all players equally."