Registration opens for the Danone Nations Cup 2018
Registration for the 2018 edition of the largest soccer tournament in the world for children between 10 and 12 years is open.
Schools across the country are invited to become part of the Danone Nations Cup, which touches the lives of over two million people annually.
The 2018 edition will be the 19th edition of the tournament.
South Africa has been participating in the tournament since its inception.
It has won the world title three times: in 2003, 2007 and 2009.
The tournament is run in partnership with the South African Schools Football Association (Sasfa) and it comprises games beginning at cluster level.
Winning schools progress to regional and then provincial levels.
The games culminate in the national finals, where the national champion team that will represent the country at the Danone Nations Cup World Finals is identified.
Last year, over 2 700 schools registered to play in the initial rounds of the tournament, which is the most to have registered in the history of the tournament in this country.
Among the schools who are expected to be the first to enter are Benny’s Sports Development and Academy from Limpopo (2016 national champions) and the defending champions, Mophela Primary School from KwaZulu-Natal.
The former school, under coach Mbishi Mokwena, has already started preparing its team.
The basis on which the competing nations decide on their champion team differs from country to country. In South Africa it is an inter-school competition. Other countries send their top club youth sides or academy teams. Others select regional or national teams at u-12 level.
The Danone Nations Cup is built on fundamental principles: participation, friendship, accessibility and fair play.
The message is to believe in your dreams and to promote healthy living through sport to as many people as possible in the world.
The eventual 2018 South African national champion team will be going to the Danone Nations Cup World Finals at a venue still to be decided.
To register for the tournament please contact Themba Tshabalala at SASFA:
thembatshabalala@saschoolsfa.co.za or 072 588 4957
