By SPORTS Reporter
JOHANNESBURG- GAUTENG champions, St Joseph’s Kulani Primary School, are the province’s sole hope for a berth in the global finals of the Danone Nations Cup scheduled for France in October.

Based in Winterveldt northwest of Pretoria, the school will contest for the lucrative spot when it contests the local finals in Ekurhuleni.

It will be one of nine schools, representing the cream of the crop in primary schools football in the country, to converge at the WJ Clement Sports Stadium in Reiger Park.

Kickoff is 0930 hrs on Saturday. Entrance is free.

With the sole ticket for the global finals set for the majestic State de France, currently hosting the European Championships, up for grabs, organisers anticipate fierce competition.

“All the teams in the weekend’s final in Reiger Park need to sharpen their skills because there are a lot of very good teams that want to represent South Africa in the World Finals,” said a spokesperson ahead of the event on Saturday.

Ex-champions, Bakerville Junior Secondary (Eastern Cape), Benny’s Sports Development & Academy (Limpopo), BM Mokitime Primary (North West), Mafikeng Mthethomusha Primary (KwaZulu-Natal),
Nancy Shiba Primary (Mpumalanga), St Helena Bay Primary (Western Cape), Van Rensburg Primary (Northern Cape) and Witsieshoek Primary (Free State) will battle St Joseph’s Kulani in the national finals.

St Joseph’s Kulani won the provincial finals after beating Rosebank Primary in the finals also played at Reiger Park earlier this month.

Danone and sponsorship partners, Mille, are organizing the event.

The Danone Nations Cup is the world’s biggest football tournament for children between the ages of 10 and 12.

Every year since 2000, around 2,5 million children take part in local, regional and then national competitions, before the winners fly off to compete in the World Final.

– Guardian