Rosina Sedibane pay the penalty against Mohloli

MOHLOLI High School’s from Sharpeville were crowned winners of the Future Champions Gauteng Schools Cup. Fifteen of the best soccer schools from around the province squared-off at the at the Hillview High School grounds on Saturday.

Teams were divided into four groups and competed in 25 minutes per half matches. Stakes were high as only the four group winners could advance to the semi-finals. Ultimately, these were: (Group A) Rosina Sedibane Sports School, (Group B) Mohloli High School, (Group C) Rakgotso High School, (Group D) SAFA/Transnet School of Excellence.

In semi-final one, Rosina (from Laudium) and Rakgotso (from Hammanskraal) played to a goalless draw. The ensuing penalty shoot-out saw Rosina edge Rakgotso in a high-scoring and extremely nervy 15-14 suddendeath win. The second semi-final saw Mohloli snatch a 1-0 win over the School of Excellence (Johannesburg).

To get to the final Mohloli played four matches and Rosina five under the searing Pretoria sun. Both teams, however, started the final as if it were their first game of the day. Ball possession within the first 10 minutes was heavily tilted in Mohloli’s favour. After some time spent attempting to get through Rosina’s defence, nifty-winger Sizwe Motsuoa latched on to a ball in the 18 yard area and slotted in a goal in the fifth minute to give Mohloli the lead. They continued to enjoy a bulk of the possession and attempts at goal for the remainder of the half.

In the second half both teams continued to slug it out, however, clear goal scoring opportunities were few and far between. Rosina started to see more of the ball with attacking midfielder Paseka Motsoeni showing some great skill in the midfield. However they still could not find a breakthough. In the 47th minute with only three minutes remaining Rosina drove into the opposition defence and were awarded a free-kick just on the edge of the penalty box. Up stepped-up jersey number four Neo Baloyi. With the game seemingly destined to end with a single goal, Baloyi hit the ball through Mohloli’s five man wall and into the back of the net. Soon after the referees final whistle sounded to end the game and signal penalties.

Rosina took the first penalty and Peter Ramasodi comfortably slotted it in. Mohloli responded immediately with well taken penalty of their own by Mpho Motloung. Rosina missed their next two spot kicks and Mohloli scored theirs. The scores at that point were 3-1 in favour of Mohloli with two kicks each remaining. Neo Baloyi scored to make it 3-2 but Mohloli’s Sizwe Mutsuoa took the game out of reach with a spot kick to hand his team the tournament and drive his teammates into delirium.

Both teams have qualified for the lucrative Gauteng Cup which takes place on March 17 at the University of Pretoria HPC soccer grounds.

Mohloli High School’s captain Mbuyisela Moloto dispatches the ball past Rosina Sedibe goalkeeper Luzoko Jevuka during the penalty shoot-out in the final. Mohloli won 4-2 on penalties. PICTURE OUPA MOKOENA

  • We had a wonderful football and cultural experience in Gauteng. The tournament and activities were very well organized and we found everyone involved extremely helpful and accommodating. We have all returned home with fantastic memories of our time in South Africa, both on and off the pitch, and have made many new friends as a result of the trip. I hope that we are invited to participate in future tournaments.

    Everton Academy Head Coach

  • The experience both on and off the field for our players during the Future Champions tournament in Gauteng was life-enriching for all those who participated. We were privileged enough to win this edition but what will be bringing us back in future is the cross-cultural education our players receive from spending time with athletes from all over the world. They are human beings before they are football players and enriching them with other cultures is as rewarding as the experience they receive on the field.

    Club Tijuana Director of Football

  • After twenty years of experiencing tournaments around the globe, Future Champions is hands down the best organized, well run International Tournament we have ever participated in. Bringing teams from dozens of different countries provided our boys exposure to cultural diversity they only read about in textbooks. It’s amazing how sport can be the cultural link that provides the opportunity to interact with each other and discover that our global community is a bit smaller than they realized. We had a football and cultural experience that will be cherished for the rest of our lives.

    Director of USYSA Select

  • For us to compete in Future Champions is much more than playing a series of matches. It is an opportunity to compete and contrast our level against the best teams from around the world and the possibility of living in another culture and environment for an unforgettable week, learning about the history of the fight for human rights.

    Director of Aspire Academy

  • The addition of a girls’ competition this year is a natural expansion for what has become a hugely popular event. Over and above the football, the players are also exposed to life-skills courses and HIV/AIDS awareness that could end up saving their lives in the future. We have had an amazing partnership with the Gauteng Province over the last decade and we thank each and every stakeholder for making the Future Champions Gauteng campaign such a huge success

    Tournament director