GAUTENG-BASED Rosina Sedibane High School will represent South Africa at the international Soccer Federation Schools World Championship tournament in France next year following their success at the Metropolitan Sasfa Under-16 Cup competition at the weekend.
A much bigger prize for the pupils, however, is the prospect of playing in the Premier Soccer League, possibly following in the footsteps of the youngsters who graduated from the school and turned professional.
Sedibane claimed their third successive cup title when they thumped Robinvale High 3-0 in the final played at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
A lack of proper development structures has been at the heart of the poor and slow production of budding youngsters. But some of the scouts from the PSL teams have identified raw talent from the under-16 competition, ready to be nurtured.
As many as 66 matches were played throughout the week, which started on a sad note following the death of 16-year-old Andani Kutama from Benny Sports Academy in Limpopo during a match against Freedom Park from North West.
There was further disappointment when one of the Free State qualifiers, Setjhabasemaketse Secondary School were summarily expelled from the tournament for attempting to field a player who was not a pupil at the school, a flagrant contravention of tournament rules, which require all participants to be full-time day scholars at their respective schools.
But the gloom lifted somewhat as the boys gathered strength to see the tournament through, much in the spirit of the fallen young soldier.
Sedibane has produced a number of standout players from the last three tournaments, with players such as Miguel Tim going on to sign with Bidvest Wits after playing in the tournament.
Reflecting on achieving an unprecedented hat-trick of titles, Rosina Sedibane coach Kwanele Kopo said: "We have a fantastic relationship with SuperSport United's Academy, who are always available to offer advice and expertise.
"It gives the players a sense of professionalism that shows in the way they play from the first to the last whistle. I'm delighted with the way my boys applied themselves and I am a very proud coach today."
Three titles in row for Sedibane
GAUTENG-BASED Rosina Sedibane High School will represent South Africa at the international Soccer Federation Schools World Championship tournament in France next year following their success at the Metropolitan Sasfa Under-16 Cup competition at the weekend.
A much bigger prize for the pupils, however, is the prospect of playing in the Premier Soccer League, possibly following in the footsteps of the youngsters who graduated from the school and turned professional.
Sedibane claimed their third successive cup title when they thumped Robinvale High 3-0 in the final played at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Durban on Saturday.
A lack of proper development structures has been at the heart of the poor and slow production of budding youngsters. But some of the scouts from the PSL teams have identified raw talent from the under-16 competition, ready to be nurtured.
As many as 66 matches were played throughout the week, which started on a sad note following the death of 16-year-old Andani Kutama from Benny Sports Academy in Limpopo during a match against Freedom Park from North West.
There was further disappointment when one of the Free State qualifiers, Setjhabasemaketse Secondary School were summarily expelled from the tournament for attempting to field a player who was not a pupil at the school, a flagrant contravention of tournament rules, which require all participants to be full-time day scholars at their respective schools.
But the gloom lifted somewhat as the boys gathered strength to see the tournament through, much in the spirit of the fallen young soldier.
Sedibane has produced a number of standout players from the last three tournaments, with players such as Miguel Tim going on to sign with Bidvest Wits after playing in the tournament.
Reflecting on achieving an unprecedented hat-trick of titles, Rosina Sedibane coach Kwanele Kopo said: "We have a fantastic relationship with SuperSport United's Academy, who are always available to offer advice and expertise.
"It gives the players a sense of professionalism that shows in the way they play from the first to the last whistle. I'm delighted with the way my boys applied themselves and I am a very proud coach today."
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