Deputy President Paul Mashatile commends CAF Schools’ champions

During the Youth Day Celebrations at Old Peter Mokaba Stadium on Sunday, 16 June, the Deputy President of South Africa, Paul Mashatile, used the occasion to laud the South African u15 girls’ football team.

Less than a month ago, in Zanzibar, Tanzania, coach Ntombifuthi Khumalo’s team won the CAF African Schools Championship.

The SA u15 girls triumphed over Morocco in a penalty shootout, winning 4-3 from the spot after the game had ended in a 1-1 draw in regulation time.

Coach Khumalo had previously guided Edendale Technical High School to victory in the AFCON COSAFA Qualifiers twice, which earned them a spot in the CAF Finals of the Schools Championship. However, they had never previously won the title.

Not only did their triumph over Morocco speaks volumes about the team’s resilience, but it was a breakthrough victory, a milestone achievement, as they became the first South African team to be crowned the champions of the CAF African Schools Championship.

“I would like to commend the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, for promoting the Sports for Youth Development (S4YD) initiative as a serious medium of intervention that promotes the physical and mental health of our youth and reinforces the fact that young people are at the heart of South Africa’s work to promote unity, active citizenry, peace, and development,” Deputy President Mashatile said.

“We must include the young people in discussions that influence their current goals and our future goals.”

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Siya Pongco

A passionate reader and dedicated writer, Siya possesses three degrees from Rhodes University including a Postgraduate Diploma at Rhodes University. He also played amateur cricket and soccer, both during his university years. While honing his journalism skills at Grocott’s Mail in Makhanda, he developed a profound interest in the community’s response to crime. Additionally, he covered topics such as art/culture and student politics at Rhodes University in 2022. In his spare time, Siya can be found exploring galleries, dining at restaurants, indulging in literature, taking photographs or savouring his favourite dish, spaghetti.

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