Johannesburg, Monday, 26 March 2012 – Defending champions Clube Atletico Mineiro got their 2012 Future Champions Gauteng campaign off to an excellent start with an emphatic 4-0 victory over South Africa’s Mohloli High School at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto, on Monday.
The first day of competition in the 2012 event saw six matches played with the Brazilians’ result the stand-out as they benefited from a brace via the boot of Yago, and further goals from Ze Alberto and Carlos.
Mohloli High School had faced a long road to reach this prestigious international tournament, qualifying through the Future Champions Schools Cup and then the Future Champions Gauteng Cup, and could not have asked for a tougher start to their campaign.
South African side Orlando Pirates FC also produced an excellent result when they defeated USA outfit New England Revolution 3-0. Siyanda Ngcobo got a brace for the Buccaneers to go with a goal from Nhlalanipho Ntuli.
Another Mzansi side, Bidvest Wits, played to a 1-1 draw with the Aspire Academy from Qatar. Tshidiso Monamodi netted for the Clever Boys, with Sultan Bakhit on the score-sheet for the Qataris.
Ghana’s FC Nania played to a 1-1 draw with Nacional from Uruguay as Joshua Aditser netted for the Africans, and Marcos Labandeira for the South American team.
Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven and Young Zebras of Botswana also played to a 1-1 draw. Jouneid Yachou netted for the Dutch, but Thatayaone Ramatlapeng was on target for the Zebras.
Zambia’s K-Stars finished the opening day with a comprehensive 3-1 victory over the School of Excellence. Davy Daka, Emmanuel Mumba and David Kashanga netted for the Zambians, while Tshepo Mashigo got a consolation for the South Africans.
The action continues on Tuesday when there is an all-African derby as K-Stars take on FC Nania, while Aspire Academy will take on Young Zebras.
The School of Excellence tackle New England Revolution, with Bidvest Wits facing the tough challenge of Clube Atletico Mineiro. Orlando Pirates FC also face South American opposition in the form of Nacional, before Mohloli High School take on PSV Eindhoven.
The Future Champions Gauteng tournament, organised by Global Sports International on behalf of the Gauteng Provincial Government, has grown into one of the top Under-17 competitions on the global football calendar and is now in its fourth year.
Boca Juniors from Argentina were crowned champions in 2009, with Chinese side Shandong Luneng victors in 2010. Clube Atletico Mineiro were the first Brazilian winners when they triumphed last year.
MONDAY’S RESULTS
Bidvest Wits 1 (Tshidiso Monamodi) Aspire Academy 1 (Sultan Bakhit)
FC Nania 1 (Joshua Aditser) Nacional 1 (Marcos Labandeira)
Young Zebras 1 (Thatayaone Ramatlapeng) PSV Eindhoven 1 (Jouneid Yachou)
Orlando Pirates FC 3 (Nhlalanipho Ntuli, Siyanda Ngcobo 2) New England Revolution 0
Clube Atletico Mineiro 4 (Yago 2, Ze Alberto, Carlos) Mohloli High School 0
School of Excellence 1 (Tshepo Mashigo) K-Stars 3 (Davy Daka, Emmanuel Mumba, David Kashanga)
TUESDAY’S FIXTURES
11h15 K-Stars vs FC Nania
12h30 Aspire Academy vs Young Zebras
13h45 School of Excellence vs New England Revolution
15h00 Bidvest Wits vs Clube Atletico Mineiro
17h00 Orlando Pirates FC vs Nacional
18h30 Mohloli High School vs PSV Eindhoven
STANDINGS
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TOURNAMENT STATS
Matches played: 6
Goals scored: 17
Biggest victory: Clube Atletico Mineiro 4 Mohloli High School 0
Most goals in a game: 4 – Clube Atletico Mineiro 4 Mohloli High School 0; School of Excellence 1 K-Stars 3
Top scorers:
2 – Siyanda Ngcobo (Orlando Pirates FC), Yago ( Clube Atletico Mineiro)
1 – Joshua Aditser (FC Nania), Sultan Bakhit (Aspire Academy), Carlos (Clube Atletico Mineiro), Davy Daka (K-Stars), David Kashanga (K-Stars), Marcos Labandeira (Nacional), Tshepo Mashigo (School of Excellence) Tshidiso Monamodi (Bidvest Wits), Emmanuel Mumba (K-Stars), Nhlalanipho Ntuli (Orlando Pirates FC), Thatayaone Ramatlapeng (Young Zebras), Jouneid Yachou (PSV Eindhoven), Ze Alberto (Clube Atletico Mineiro)
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