ZULU: WE SHARE EVERYTHING

ERNEST MABASA

From sharing a room at the SuperSport United Academy to sharing a stage as they receive the top goal scorer award at the country's biggest schools tournament- the Sanlam Kay Motsepe Schools Cup, surely Zakhele Mgobhozi and Kwanele Zulu had more to smile about.  

Both players are Holy Trinity High School grade 12 pupils and attend the same classes, they are also in the same sports academy (SuperSport United). They share the same dreams and share the same room and some jokes during relaxation time. And the most recent thing they shared was the Kay Motsepe’s award.   

As the Holy Trinity High School was crowned the tournament's champions, Mgobhozi who is the team's captain and midfielder together with striker Zulu beamed smiles as they went to the stage to grab the top goal scorer’s award at Gaint Stadium, Soshanguve, even though Mgobhozi failed to meet his 10 goals target, no one could beat his six goals but Zulu could only score the same. They both want to play in the national league and overseas.

“I am happy for being a top goal scorer in this tournament because this was my last tournament since I am in grade 12. Sharing an award with the captain (Mgobhozi) feels good. It is an honour. He is my friend. We talk about everything. I do not have problem sharing a room with together. We are always together. Look, I want to play in the PSL (Absa Premiership League) for a good team like SuperSport. Playing for a bigger team than SuperSport will not be bad,” said the 18 year old Zulu.

 

The Atteridgeville based team had only 14 players to the tournament. And Captain Mgobhozi said it was nothing but a “make it against all odds” mentality and attitude that gave them to power to win the tournament.

“I am very happy that we won today. We are the champions of the tournament. I am very much grateful. I want to thank god for giving us strength and protecting us because we had a very small squad. 

“This tournament was very much competitive because lots of schools had talented players with quality. Winning this tournament was because we were solid and very unique,” he said.

Mgobhozi also won the best player of the tournament award due to his excellent performance. Holy Trinity beat Tholokuhle High School which is based in Kwazulu Natal 3-0 to win the tournament.

 

Sphelele: "Shakes" helped Amajita too much

ERNEST MABASA

Amajita and University of Pretoria central midfielder Sphelele Luthuli expects a similar coach as Shakes Mashaba to take over the vacant position.

Luthuli believes that Shakes mashaba has played a pivotal role in his football career and has instilled a positive attitude to all players in the squad. Amajita have qualified for the 2015 African Youth Championships in Senegal after 2-1 win at Peter Mokaba stadium, Polokwane making it 3-2 on aggregate.

“Winning is always great. It felt great and it meant that we played very well. I am happy as a player,” Luthuli, who praised Mashaba’s coaching skills, said.

“He is the best coach; he gave us time to play football. He let us play relaxed and without any problem. I have learnt a lot from him. At halftime against Cameroon like always, he told us that he puts the country first before his family and so should we as players.  Mashaba allowed us to showcase our talents. He is a good coach.

“Even when we were at training, he told us to train as if we were playing a match because we represent the country. I wish that he be replaced by a coach who will allow express our. As Amajita, we treat one another as member of a family. We love each other no one feels that he is bigger than the other. We are all equal. To coach I wish him the best in the national squad (Bafana Bafana). I hope he will do well,” the 19 year old Luthuli said.

It is the first time that South Africa have qualified for the African championships since 2009. And if Amajita finish in the top four next year in Senegal, they will automatically make it into Fifa under-20 world Cup in New Zealand later in the year.

It’s a dream come true for Soweto derby coaches

ERNEST MABASA 

When Perseverance Molekoa received a call telling him that he will be coaching Kaizer Chiefs when they face Orlando Pirates tomorrow on Carling Black Label Cup fell down and cried as he could not believe it.Molekoa, who was about to go to sleep when he got the call from SABC radio presenter Thomas Mlambo announcing him the winner, says it is difficult to believe that he will be coaching chiefs tomorrow at FNB at 3:30pm. “When Thomas called me it was around 8:45pm my feelings were beyond excitement. I did not believe it. I still cannot believe this. I think I will believe it when I walk in the tunnel with the players to the field,” he said.Coach Molekoa’s wish was to coach Chiefs before he reaches 30 years and this has come true eight years earlier. Molekoa ,22, is a final year student at Tshwane University of Technology studying Officiating and Coaching Science. He believes that his theoretical knowledge will see his team win the match tomorrow,”I am a sportsman, which is why I decided to go to Tshwane University of Technology to study Officiating and Coaching Science. It is my final year and I want take it as a career. My wish was to coach Chiefs before I am 30 years and it happened now. 

I am very happy that I got the chance. I can’t wait for the game.” Molekoa continued.Soshanguve born Molekoa, who followed sport from young age, urges supporters to come to the stadium in throngs to watch great match. He says his theoretical knowledge will be put to practical, “we have to give our supporters what they want on Saturday. We are honored. We would love to thank Carling Black Label. I have much more experience than Motsepe.  He has been at the pitch with players but I know what should I do and what I should not. His experience does not do anything to me because I have knowledge theoretically that is going to contribute.” Molekoa said.The excitement experienced by Molekoa was the same for Coach Cornelius Motsepe (30) who will be at the Orlando Pirates bench. “The feeling was unexplainable. I can’t explain it even now,” he said. North West coach Motsepe has been Pirates supporter from primary school. He says that he knows very well that Pirates have culture that must be maintained. “I was born in Makau village in the North West. I am living in SOWETO now. I have been an Orlando Pirates supporter from primary school. I remember the generations of William Okpara, Brandan Silence, Helmen Mkhele and others. I think it will come down on Saturday. The results will show. We are going to showcase our gifts and talent. Obviously football changed.  It has grown. Coaches are different. We have different philosophies. Mine will focus on giving supporters value for their money through goals.  I have different style of play from others. There has been lack of goals in the derby but I am bringing different type of tactics and not forgetting the Orlando pirates’ culture of play. Former youth Sundowns coach Motsepe thinks his knowledge will play a vital role when he gets to coach Pirates tomorrow. “I am glad that I have been a site light coach of one of the clubs. The experience is big. It helped me a lot, being there coaching the youngsters the basics,” Motsepe said, who thinks players that have been playing in this competition will have much role to play this time.“We have players who have experience on this Carling Cup. Supporters have voted for Rooi Mahamutsa, Siyabonga Sangweni who is fully recovered. They bring along quality game. Yes we will not have Lucky Lekgwathi with his leadership qualities it is a big blow but we have good defense.  We have an educated midfielder Daine Klate who can whip in the crosses to create goal scoring opportunities, and strikers like Lehlogonolo Majoro and Kermit Erasmus,” he said.For Kaizer Chiefs the team will be different since some players are injured. Molekoa believes with these changes, his side stands a better chance of winning it, “Supporters have voted for the different team due to different things that prevailed Chabalala getting injured, the club losing Knowledge Musona to his German club (TSG 1899 Hoffenheim). We had to make changes. We brought in Willard Katsande and in our strike force we had to bring Kingston Nkatha. The team is looking good. It will help me to plan because earlier the counterparts could have caught me. I will bring back the Kaizer Chiefs football. With the current coach, we have been playing transitional football. It will be a great football match,” he said.

 

Fun Fitness Gym 4 All Club needs sponsorship

ERNEST MABASA

They debuted competition arena with winning a bronze medal and then added up by silver, this year they have won gold and it takes them to Czech Republic.

Atteridgeville based Fun Fitness Gym 4 All Club won the South Africa Sports Aerobics and Fitness Championships in Cape Town two months ago, to earn the right to participate in the (FISAFF) Sports Aerobics and Fitness World Championships.

Having to win bronze in 2012, the eight member club saw that as a sign that if they put more effort to it, they could get a chance to compete internationally. Through being hard at practice, the club clinched two gold medals in June and Coach James Sebolai is delighted.

 “I identified talent in these members in 2008 at Motheong Primary School and I trained them. In 2012 I saw that they were fit to compete and then I formalized a team.  We went to Cape Town and won our first medal and last year we went to Kimberley and won silver. This year we went Cape Town again and we came first,” he said.

“It has been a long successful journey for us. We had experience and exposure. They started with bronze and added with silver and now we have gold medal in Cadat Fitness team which consists of eight members and Cadet Small team which has five,” said James, who is very happy to go to Prague.

“It is our first competition in international category because last year their finished at the national level. This year because of improvement and hard work, time and energy, I entered into the international category. To my surprise I thought I was preparing them for next year but they were good enough to Qualify for this year. That is how they got selected to go represent South Africa,” he said.

Team captain Reneilwe Lehong (12) has been looking forward to competing internationally. She says she is happy since it will be her first fly overseas. They will be boarding a flight on October, 19.

 “I chose Aerobics because this is a sport I can do well in and it’s a team sport. I ask anyone to help us because if the day comes and we do not go I will feel very sad, because when we won in Cape Town, we were looking forward to this (Sports Aerobics and Fitness World Champions in Czech Republic),” Lehong said.

When other children face hunger and poverty, these face financial challenges since they are from historically disadvantaged families. They are looking for sponsorship to fund them. The competition will take place from October 21-25 and the team will need at least R18, 000 each for flight, food and accommodation.

                       

Any sponsor that would like to come forward and help fund the girls’ trip to  the Czech Republic please call the team caoch James Sebolai on 0843138261.

ERNEST MABASA

           

Lethabile High School Rugby coach Charlie Chilly could not talk for few seconds due to outstanding performance from his team in the Regional Winter School Games on Friday.

Lethabile went to the tournament with winning mentality that claimed two successive wins on day. Having smashing Soshanguve based Kgadime High school 27-0 in their first game and followed by 27-5 against Thakgalang High school at the Loftus Versfeld stadium. Chilly expressed his compliment to the boys. He says a coach cannot ask for more when a team is performing this way. “I am very happy with the boys. They have done a very good work. This comes from discipline I instill in them. No team can go far without discipline in players. I can’t express the excitement I am going through now. It is just tears of joy,” he said.

Coach Chilly, who is coaching the boys for the first in this career, says they have been hard at training and this team never gone this far in the past few years. “We train very hard. We are always at training from Mondays to Fridays. We just do not have time to waste because we want the best performance from ourselves.  We can only be thankful and grateful to the Gauteng Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation and the Department of Education for commitment to reviving school leagues with the Gauteng Schools Games programme,” said Chilly.

These games are government initiative to develop talents from pupils. It has rugby, soccer, netball and volley ball codes. The Regional Winter games will see 15 winning schools from ongoing school leagues across Gauteng regions compete for selection to represent their district at the Gauteng Provincial School Games next month. “On the 15^th or the 16^th of August, we are going to play in the provincial level. We are very confident that it well be just a walk in the park. We are winners not losers. We do not lose. If you don’t believe me come see us train at the Stanza Bopape Sports ground in Mamelodi.  For the provincial school games, we only promise a win. We will play basic Rugby. We want to score tries,” he said.

Inter-cultural marriages

 

By Ernest Mabasa

Yes, this response to the question as to whether yes or no on a big topic “Inter-cultural marriages” is motivated by many values and knowledge across the world that I have garnered. My reasons for my reaction to the question are motivated by my knowledge on the current cultural differences, past experience, financial background, cosmopolitan culture and new culture that can be created through the mixed marriages and need for harmony.

Even to this date some people think other’s cultural norms, customs and traditions are not very important to their lives and this lead to hatred. Hatred that is very weakly motivated. People should start try to broach these kinds of topics on radio, television and social networks so we can all understand one another. The fact that I do not know much about how English, Indians, Zulus and Vendas do things might make me feel offended when they do something that my culture does not approve because I have not given myself enough time to learn about these people.

This will eventual lead to hatred towards those people for no reason or valid reason if a may say. We need to learn about other people and their cultures and drop the bad habits because it is self evident that it is not working but killing the country. Inter-cultural marriages open a way into making people realize that life would be much better without any strings that put have now. Let us first know or understand the current difference and answer this question “why do we have these differences and how we can understand these differences?”

Past experience has big role to play since everyone has background that may differ from one to the other. For example English and Afrikaans people came here “African continent” with what I believe to be unfounded perceptions and attitudes. If we cannot get the reasons as to why they behaved like that, we are not going anywhere. We need to find out what led to Afrikaans people (National Party led by F Malan) introduce prohibition of mixed marriages if not we are likely not going to forgive them. We need to learn their past and make an informed decision as to whether one wants to live happily life without grudges and forgive them. Maybe he or she may even have time to marry either of the mentioned groups.

Since I am pro Inter-cultural marriages, I think it would help all people in terms of wealth accumulations because many people in our black race still do not know what wealth is and how to accumulate it. We need English and Afrikaans people to marry Tsongas, Pedi, Sothos and Xhosas etc to add knowledge on how to accumulate wealth.

Black illusion of wealth is big cars and wearing expensive clothes while on the other groups is investment where it is necessary, for example a car, house and education just to mention a few. Inter cultural marriage is the way to go these nowadays because everyone has been marrying within their own cultures and tribes.

It is not even attractive it is very boring now. Let’s go for it, it would bring more investors who would help strengthen the economy of the country and job opportunities would expand or increase.

 Cosmopolitan culture is when city/place or country or person that embraces its multicultural demographics. Cosmopolitanism is the ideology that all human ethnic groups belong to a single community based on a shared morality. A person who adheres to the idea of cosmopolitanism in any of its forms is called a cosmopolitan or cosmopolitanism. A cosmopolitan community might be based on an inclusive morality, a shared economic relationship, or a political structure that encompasses different nations.

People should copy how Americans live and do things because I find them to be relevant to this world, unlike people who do not want to do things in an advanced and changed way. We need to copy what is important and helpful to us every time.

New culture, which would be characterized by harmony, would be formed. Now people are even afraid to look at one another in the streets because people have some things in their hearts that they do not see that are not vital any more. I am number one.

The New Zealand 18 day tour worked

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The New Zealand tour experience could have been the reason why St Alban's College hockey team smashed Hoerskool Menlopark and claim top position in the Northerns Pretoria Boys Hockey A league.

In  the beginning of the year, the team was hard at training and during the school recess in April, Saint Albans took on an 18-days tour to New Zealand capital and played nine games.They played three games against Christ church, Christchurch Boys’ High Invitation, Shirley Boys’ High School and Christchurch Boys’ High 1st XI, two against Dunedin Otago Boys’ High School and John McGlashan College.

After 3 days in Dunedin they flew into Wellington and drove up to Palmerston North. Here we will be hosted by Palmerston North Boys’ High School. Palmerston North Boys’ High 1st XI and Palmerston North Boys’ High 2nd XI. The other game was hosted in Wanganui Collegiate against Wanganui Collegiate 1st XI. They had managed to win eight out of the nine games. College coach Ryan Anderson, who was over the moon after they beat Menlo Park four goals to two, said: “I am very grateful that we are at the top of table log. It is great feeling and means we are doing the right things. We train hard. It creates good brand in our college because hockey is very good.

Ryan Anderson still remembers the heartfelt happiness that they had in 2012 when they won the title, but even sorrow that they had to go through last year when they were dethroned. Pretoria High School for Boys, who are in position two with 18 points, won the title in 2013.”We have 21 points and defending champions have 18 points. We have three points ahead them. We never lost and that counts. We are looking forward to winning this year. We want to be consistent. We can dethrone them as well.” coach Anderson said. With Saint Albans and PHSB have being enjoying the creature comforts of top positions, centurion based Zwartkop High School and Hoerskool Garsfontein are struggling, the latter with only one point. Zwartkop has nine points having won only two games.

Garsies Stewart Dunbar has not given up for this but believes that his may do well next year.he says his youngest club is not performing and that this will come to an end soon. The problemis that he has all young players with the oldest at 19 years and “we are building this  team for next year. You can even see that we do not lose matches with big matches. We have young stars but next it will be difficult for all these schools,” he said.