AJ Ferreira to Represent NC in National Tournament
Kimberley - For the first time AJ Ferreira High School from the ZF Mgcawu will represent the Northern Cape at the national Sanlam Kay Motsepe under 19 soccer tournament to be played in Gauteng province in October.
They booked their place in the nationals after they emerged as provincial winners of the same competition during the games that were played on Saturday in Kimberley. AJ Ferreira outplayed their peers Okiep High School in the finals, they walloped them 3-1. The one day tournament comprised of five schools representing all the provincial districts.
For their hard earned victory they AJ were rewarded with a cheque of R100 000 and a trophy. Going to the nationals they stand a chance of winning R1 million if they win the tournament. The Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup remains the highest paying schools sports competition.
Rietvale High School has always been dominating the tournament in the provincial level; this time around things did not go their way as new comers AJ fought hard at all the games until the last whistle was blown.
As part of unearthing upcoming footballers Mamelodi Sundowns senior players scouts attended the tournament with the aim of identifying players that can join the club development structures.
South African Schools Sports Northern Cape president Dickson Moleko was impressed with the display from all the five participating teams, “The competition in this tournament is very stiff now, AJ Ferreira has shown that they can also compete, this is their first time going to represent the province in the national level, we are very optimistic that they will fly the provincial flag high.
The standard of football in this competition has improved tremendously, if AJ carries their good form they displayed in the provincial level, they will certainly do well in the nationals, again we are not going to add numbers when we go national our target is to win the tournament”, Moleko said.