Perfect Arcon Park to represent Gauteng in Danone Nations Cup finals
Arcon Park Primary School completed the sweep in the group stages before seeing off Roseview Primary School in the final with a 2 - 0 win. They were crowned the Gauteng U-12 Danone Nations Cup champions at Reiger Park on Saturday, June 17.
The Vereeniging school came out of their Group B ‘group of death’ largely untroubled, as they edged impressive Reddam House Bedfordview 4-3 in what was the day’s most exciting game, and probably one of the more exciting games in the competition’s 17-year history..
The clash against Reddam saw two of the best teams on the day cancel each other out and it produced tactical and technical displays that made a mockery of the tournament’s age limit.
The game also saw multiple goals scored from the centre circle from both sides, with sublime finishing getting the better of either side’s goalkeeper.
The presence of Reddam in the tournament was a significant one. They are a representative of the Johannesburg Primary Schools Football Association, the body that organises football among model C private schools in the country.
All matches ran for 15 minutes except the final, which was 20 minutes long.
Arcon Park moved on to thump Zenzeleni Primary School 3-0 before rounding off the round-robin phase with another 3-0 hiding, Florida Avenue Primary being the hapless victims this time.
The champions, who were the only undefeated team on the day, scored 10 goals and conceded just the three against Reddam House in the three round-robin games, giving them a goal difference at least twice more superior than that of everyone else.
They will be going into the national finals against the other eight provincial champions as one of the favourites, for sure.
Roseview came out of Group A, which included Thembalethu Primary School, St Joseph’s Kulani, JB Marks Primary School and Sunnyside Primary School.
A 3-0 loss to Sunnyside was the only blemish to their wins against Thembalethu, JB Marks Primary and St Joseph’s Kulani; 1-0, 3-0 and 1-0 respectively.
Their game against Thembalethu was the day’s third and saw the first goal of the day scored after the first two matches were settled from penalties following two 0-0 stalemates.
It was a well-worked team goal which culminated in front man, Sphesihle Mashinini, controlling a high through ball before finishing from a favourable angle.
Tournament kit sponsors, Mille, also ran a competition which saw fans and players take part in a ‘shoot for goals’ challenge. More than 50 pairs of Mille shoes were won, as well as loads of Danone products including NutriDay and Yogi Sip.
The national finals will take place at the WJ Clements Stadium in Reiger Park on Saturday, July 1; kick-off is at 9.30am. – @SabeloBoksburg
