Danone Nations Cup Provincial Finals

The ultimate 2010 Danone Nations Cup winner will represent South Africa in the Danone Nations Cup World Finals happing in Gauteng from 30 September to 3 October.

Soweto's Meadowlands Stadium will host the Gauteng Provincial Final, while Mhluzi Stadium in Middleburg will be the venue for the Mpumalanga Provincial Final. Games in both cities will kick-off at 9am.

A long road

An 11-year-old who is looking forward to Saturday's event in Gauteng is Bongnkosi Dlamini, who said: “I feel honoured and privileged to be part of this tournament, which is aimed at encouraging children of my age to believe in our dreams.

“I am a football lover and since I started school I have been aware of the Danone Nations Cup, which takes place each year and gives 10 to 12-year-olds the opportunity to compete against other schools, as well as a further chance to play internationally. The road is still a long one, but hopefully my school will make it into the National Finals. Our coach always encourages us to play to our best ability.”

One of 16

Dlamini's school, Sedibeng Primary from Kwa-Thema district, will be one of 16 Gauteng schools that will be playing tomorrow with the hope of being crowned provincial champions. Tomorrow will also have four teams from each of the Mpumalanga Districts competing in the Provincial Finals: Matshemhlophe Primary School, Shiviti Primary, Nkangala Primary and Benjamini Primary.

The winning school from each province will join six other winners: Port Nolloth Primary School from the Northern Cape, Phakamisani Primary (WC), Sada Higher Primary (EC), Dorothy Langa Primary (Limpopo), Atamela Primary (NW) and Sinenzuzo Primary (KZN), in the Danone Nations Cup National Finals.