LOC, US State Consul General visit Mafikeng school

Friday, March 13, 2009

Mafikeng - The Department of Education, the FIFA Local Organising Committee and the United State Consul General, Andrew Passen visited the Redibone Middle School in Mafikeng on Thursday to meet the winners of the provincial leg of the School Confederations Cup.

The two u/14 teams in the school, for both girls and boys, won all the competitions in the province and were chosen as the best team to represent the province in the National Schools Confederations Cup.

A total of 8349 schools participated in the competition.

The cup forms part of My 2010 Schools Adventure Campaign aimed at promoting both education and participation in football using the FIFA Confederations Cup and the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Launched last year, the campaign intends to involve 12 million learners across the country.

Speaking to hundreds of learners gathered at the school on Thursday, Louis Taylor of the Local Organising Committee (LOC) said: "We are here specifically to commend you for your outstanding performance and encourage you to do your best in the national event."

Mr Taylor said the campaign was an excellent tool to generate excitement around the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and 2010 FIFA World Cup.

"The two largest soccer events in the world must not be felt by the selected few but it must also be experience by young children especially in school. The events belong to all the people of South Africa."

Gomotsegang Voko, 14, from the Motsoseng village was one of the learners who participated in the school's soccer team.

He told BuaNews that being part of the School Confederations Cup had given him the opportunity to show off his talent to other schools in the world.

"I am glad to be part of this tournament because it provides me with the opportunity to test my skills and also learn other things that I did not know from my school and my community, he said, adding that he hoped his team would perform well in the final event.

As the North West province has adopted the United States as their nation to support during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Mr Passen joined the LOC in wishing the teams well/

He said he was excited to be part of the campaign. "The children will be able to learn more about my country and will also get an opportunity to get education through participation in sports.

He encouraged the children to generate interest in the event, not only among their friends but their family too.

"You must be excited for country because it is going to host billions of people across the world that will be here for the main soccer event. It is also important that you also show a lot of energy and excitement about this year's Confederations Cup," he told the learners.