Vhembe-based Benny’s Care Sports Academy are the new national champions of the Kay Motsepe U/19 school soccer tournament. Benny’s Care beat the Free State-based school, Tloutlisong Secondary High, 2-1 in the final match played at Bekker High School in Magaliesburg on Saturday.

The Kay Motsepe championship is one of the most prestigious school tournaments in the country, boasting prize money of R3-million for the winning team and R700,000 for the runner-up. The provincial winners each received R150,000.

Benny’s Care started their quest to become national champions by becoming the provincial winners on 23 September. This gave them the opportunity to compete in the national finals, which were held from 3 to 7 October in Magaliesburg, where they ended at the top of their pool.

The Limpopo winners advanced to the finals by defeating the Free State-based school, Virginia High, on Thursday (4 October). The winner had to be determined by a penalty shootout after the two schools had played to a 1-1 draw. The Limpopo squad ended up winning 5-4.

Saturday’s victory is, however, not the first time this team has excelled. Benny’s Care was the national champion in 2016 in the U/14 category and represented South Africa in France at the World Danone Cup. This was also under the guidance of coach Mbishi Mokoena, and many of the players who were playing in this year’s finals are the same players who went to France in 2016.

On Saturday, Mokoena also received the trophy as Coach of the Tournament.

Benny’s Car Sports Academy is a fully registered school, situated in Tshiozwi village in the Sinthumule district. The academy was started in 2004, and the name is derived from the founder and managing director, Mr David “Benny” Mufamadi. He is a former player, coach, and manager of the well-known Tshiozwi Dynamos. Mufamadi is also a pastor of the AFM church in Tshiozwi.

The school currently has 168 pupils and 18 teachers, which includes the principal. It caters for children from Grade R to Grade 12. According to Mr Mufamadi, 80% of the children are staying at the school and make use of the boarding facilities, because many of them come from Gauteng and other provinces. The school has always focused on sport as a means of keeping the children busy and providing them with the self-esteem to perform in life.

Mufamadi was very excited about the R3-million prize money but said that this must be used for legacy projects. The school board and other stakeholders must still meet to decide on a suitable infrastructure project.

On the team’s return to Tshiozwi the past Sunday, they were welcomed by the local traditional leader, Vhamusanda Vho Makhado Sinthumule. He said that he was proud of the quality of sports development that was taking place at Benny’s Care. “These young boys are doing a wonderful job, and we are proud of them. They put our village on the map,” he said.

Sinthumule said sport played a very important role in developing children. “Children who are involved in sport tend to perform well in class, and we will have better results in the long run,” he said. Sinthumule added that Benny’s Care had a proud history in developing soccer legends such as Khuliso Mudau, who played for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana, Lesedi Kapinga, who played for Orlando Pirates, and former Black Leopards players Ivan Mahangwahaya and Wiseman Maluleke.

Coach Mokoena said they were totally elated about winning the tournament. He praised each member of his team for their efforts. “The boys were doing their best, and we have a good understanding,” he said. “I’ve told my boys that we can perform well this season if we only focus and give our best. We are ready for the league activities now, which will start this week,” said Mokoena.