Kay Motsepe champs St Anne's built on a solid foundation and sweat

Players driven by founder and principal's passion

- By Matumelo Khara

Sellwane Thulo with her gold medal after her team's triumph Karabo Nkuke holds the trophy she won as player of the tournament

Seven years ago, Julia Nomkhosi Mphike had a dream to launch a school that would chase sporting and educational excellence.

This year, her under-13 soccer team made that dream, at least half of it, into reality.

After a thrilling display of school football, St Anne's fought for the glory of the Kay Motsepe Schools Championship crown at Soshanguve's Giant Stadium, north of Pretoria, and triumphed.

Under their wings was the passion of the school founder and principal, Julia Nomkhosi Mphike, known for her clear goal to champion sporting excellence without sacrificing academics.

Mphike wanted the freedom to model a black-owned school in line with this vision, to produce good results and improve the lives of the community, as well as to give talented boys and girls the opportunity to participate in any sport, preparing them for the professional ranks.