Norkem Park soccer players head for Spain
The team will return on April 19 and will immediately start their local league games
TWELVE first team soccer players from Norkem Park High School have been selected for an invitational team to take part in the Jordi Copa Cup in Barcelona, Spain.
One player each from Edenglen High, Edenvale High, Dinwiddie High, Germiston High and St David’s Inanda have also been included in the team that will leave South Africa on April 10.
The team has been sponsored in full by a UK-based investment firm. This tournament involves over 100 teams from across the world. Andrew Gifford and Mvuyise Vikwa, the first team coaches at Norkem Park High School, will lead the squad.
The group will take in a sightseeing trip of the city as well as a visit to the Nou Camp – the home of Barcelona Football Club. They will also have coaching sessions with local Spanish coaches and friendly games before heading to Blanes on the Coasta Brava to take part in the three-day tournament.
The sponsor said: “True transformation is giving the underprivileged all the opportunities that comparatively wealthy players enjoy. This really is a life-changing opportunity for the players.”
Gifford said: “We cannot thank all of our stakeholders enough. This trip exposes the players to the rigours of European football and the different culture and I hope they grab this opportunity with both hands.”
The team will return on April 19 and will immediately start their local league games.
The players selected from Norkem are Kabelo Kganakga, Grant Mathabathe, Lefa Mokoena, Kabelo Mokoena, Velile Mavundla, Nkosinathi Kubeka, Lesego Maleka, Phumlani Kgosana, Thato Dlamini, Sihle Maskeko, Moeketsi Mohlala and Khodani Rabedzwana.
The other players are David Mojapelo (Dinwiddie), Onymaechi Atu (Germiston), Luca Venditti (St David’s Inanda), Malungelo Maqenqu (Edenvale High) and Matthew Gifford (Edenglen High).
Norkem Park High School’s first soccer team also took time out of their busy pre-season schedule to thank their local sponsors. The school has been supported by its Old Boy network with kind donations of playing and training kit as well as donations to help fund the players on their tours.
The school would like to thank EEC/Tap a Tag (Douglas Gillan), Flame Diner (André Lubbe), Pandora (Paul Kent) and SBH, Saturn Clothing (Jonathan Shoebridge) for their continued support.
