LIMPOPO – The girls’ soccer team from Nthabiseng Special School in Namakgale is set to represent Limpopo at the Special Olympics National Unified Football Tournament in Johannesburg.

The school, which educates intellectually impaired learners, has seen its team triumph through various levels of competition to earn this prestigious opportunity.

The tournament, which features players aged 16-25, will showcase the talents of Nthabiseng’s team after they won all their games from the municipal to the district level.

Their latest victory was a 4-1 win against Ratanang Special School, securing their place in the national finals.

The team consists of nine players: five from Nthabiseng Special School and four from Relebogile High School, a mainstream school.

Team manager Rebecca Mashabela expressed confidence in the team’s readiness for the nationals. “Our goal is to play our best football and hopefully bring the trophy home,” she said.

Coach Masana Bila has been diligently training the girls, ensuring they are well-prepared for the tournament. The Limpopo Academy of Sport has assessed the players, confirming that all are in top physical condition.

Looking ahead, the international championships will be held in October next year in Gauteng.

Should Nthabiseng’s team win at a national level, they will compete against 19 teams from around the globe.