BOKSBURG- BENNY’S Sports Development and Academy will represent the country at the Danone Nations Cup global finals after winning the recent national championships played in Boksburg.

They are the first school from Limpopo to take the title and the first sports development school to win it.

As national champions, Benny’s will represent South Africa at the Danone finals in France from October 14th to 16th.

They accounted for North West champions, BM Mokitime Primary, 3-2 in a penalty shootout, after a goalless final.

BM Mokitime came into the finals as favourites after an impressive performance in the provincial finals.

Benny’s coach, Mbishi Mokwena, says the tournament is about ‘believing in your dreams.’

His dream since January was to win it.

“We followed the tournament religiously on Facebook,” he says.

“We knew who had gone through to the finals, investigated the type of football they played and the quality of players and we prepared accordingly.

His team went into the nationals determined, hence the night prior to the nationals, while the kids from the other schools were running around having fun, his boys decided to stay focused and not let the bright lights of Joburg get to them.

“We remained focused on the task ahead,” Mokwena says.

Going to France, he wants the boys to enjoy the experience of being part of one of the biggest soccer development tournaments in the world.

“My ultimate dream is to be the most successful development school in South Africa,” he says.

He says the 10 to 12 years old group is the most important phase because young players can absorb a lot of information and are easier to instruct.

“Dealing with teenagers is more difficult because they start to believe that they know better, which is the downfall of many a player’s career.”

– Guardian Sport