McDonald’s U-14 Schools League

Developing Dreams The 2013 McDonald’s U-14 Schools League kicks off on Saturday, 20 July, with the Eastern Cape qualification leg at the Rotary Stadium in Ngangelizwe Township, Mthatha. 

The provincial tournament dubbed ‘Developing Dreams’ will be the first of nine such events– one in each province of South Africa – on consecutive weekends until the national finals are held at Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton from September 19 to 21. 

The 2013 tournament, which is the fourth edition of the event, will be officially launched in Gauteng on Monday, 15 July. 

Run in association with the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA), the McDonald’s U-14 Schools League has the specific goal of providing a structure for young learners to showcase their footballing talent and keep them active while they are outside the classroom. 

The Schools League, which was first staged in 2010, helps identify young football stars of tomorrow and gives schools teams the chance to demonstrate their skills on a provincial and national basis. 

Developing the dreams of these grassroots footballers has the potential to unearth great young talent that could one day go on to join the professional ranks and perhaps even represent South Africa’s senior national team, Bafana Bafana. 

Beyond the aim of winning the tournament and lifting the trophy at the national finals, the Schools League is also about getting young learners active and enjoying their sport. 

One of the key objectives of this competition is to provide opportunities to youngsters to not only play football, but make friends and great memories. 

“We believe that a healthy mind resides inside a healthy body. School children who take part in sport have a better chance of doing well in class as they are healthier through playing sport,” said McDonald’s South Africa’s Corporate Affairs Director, Sechaba Motsieloa. 

Following the opening provincial qualifying tournament in the Eastern Cape on July 20, the Schools League will head to the following areas: North West (27 July, Ikageng Stadium) Mpumalanga (3 August, Ka Nyamazane) Gauteng (10 August, Giant Stadium) KwaZulu-Natal (17 August, Paradise Grounds) Limpopo (24 August, Westernberg) Free State (31 August, Zuka Baloyi) Western Cape (7 September, Sarepta Sport Grounds) Northern Cape (14 September, Mziwabantu Stadium) National Finals (19-21 September, Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton)