BUSHBUCKRIDGE – Against all odds, Daniye Primary School’s under-12 soccer team has put this small village in Mpumalanga on the international map.

The team, which do not have a proper soccer ground, were honoured by teachers, fellow learners and the chieftaincy during a send-off ceremony to London on Friday.

This was after they won the 2013 Danone Nations Cup after crashing Siphumele Primary of KwaZulu-Natal in the final.

They will be the Bafana Bafana representatives at the Danone world finals at Wembley Stadium next week.

Attended by delegates from South African Schools Football Association (Sasfa) and the South African Football Association (Safa), the jubilant ceremony was aimed at encouraging the boys and to bid them farewell.

Speaking on behalf of the young lads who were both excited and frightened was their captain, Njombo Mabunda, who said that they were afraid of being in the plane for the first time but were ready for the challenge.

“I am sure we are going to be fine and enjoy this trip but our aim is not only to enjoy but to go and play soccer and win,” he said.

Sasfa’s provincial chairperson, Sipho Mabuza, commended the principal, “Botsotso” Mabunda and the team’s coach, Russel Khoza, for making the province proud through dedication to and support of the team.

“Such a journey involves commitment and without your never-ending involvement, these boys would not have made it to this far,” he said.

He also encouraged the boys to beat their flying experience anxiety by sharing his first flight experience with them.

” I was once in the same situation as you are today and I can assure you that being on the plane is a wonderful experience,” Mabuza said.

Acting Bushbuckridge mayor, Cllr Boytjie Mokoena, acknowledged the community’s involvement as part of the achievement saying that they were all active participants in ensuring the team’s victory.

He also mentioned that there was talent in the Bushbuckridge area but it was hard to spot this talent due to lack of resources and proper facilities.

“If we can utilise this dormant talent in our villages, poverty would be no more and many unemployed people would be able to secure jobs.

“You boys have made us proud through your dedication even without a proper training field. Just like our very own Katlego Mashego, Vivian Moreko and many more soccer stars from our area, go and bring the trophy home,” concluded Mokoena.