Primary schools from across the country are invited to become part of one of the biggest youth football tournaments in the world, the 2017 Danone Nations Cup, which caters for children between the ages of ten and 12.
The tournament has been in operation for the past 17 years, and is reported to have touched the lives of over 2 million children each year.
A total of 32 countries are expected to participate in the tournament, which is the brain child of Danone, a global producer of dairy products, once again.
Chantel Ehlers, communication manager of Danone Southern Africa, has expressed her excitement about once again being part of this tournament.
The South African leg of this worldwide competition is organised by the South African Schools Football Association (Sasfa).
Games begin at cluster level, with the winners progressing to regional finals, culminating in the nine provincial winners playing in the national finals.
The national winners are awarded the honour of representing South Africa at the international Danone Nations Cup World Finals tournament in the United States later in the year.
More than 200 schools have already registered, but that number is expected to increase significantly.
The Northern Cape will host the first provincial final in the latter part of March.
One of the schools that will register again is the 2016 winners, Benny’s Sports Academy and Development, from Louis Trichard in Limpopo.
The 2016 champion’s coach, Mbishi Mokwena, urges other teams to follow in his footsteps by starting preparations in time.
Mokwena encourages all schools to register for the 2017 Danone Nations Cup tournament, as it is such a massive platform for development and it exposes players to the fundamental elements of soccer.
- To register, contact Themba Tshabalala of Sasfa at thembatshabalala@saschoolsfa.co.za or on 072-588-4957.
