The two finalists for the COSAFA Under-15 Schools Tournament will battle it out for the coveted title this year ahead of the final of the COSAFA Under-20 Championships at the Moruleng Stadium on December 16.

Tshwara-O-Dire Primary School and Madutle Primary School will clash as a curtain-raiser to the regional Under-20 decider that will conclude a competition to find the best Under-15 schools team in the Moses Kotane Local Municipality.

The preliminaries for the tournament, which is hosted by Bakgatla-Ba-Kgafela, were held in August and September this year.

Tshwara-O-Dire Primary School hosted a special ceremony on Thursday to honour the two finalists, where 2016 COSAFA Under-20 Championship sponsors PPC were on hand to present both schools with special football kits that they will wear in the final.

With over 400 students in attendance, the event also provided the perfect platform to encourage learners to take their education seriously.

“Education is vital in creating a better life for yourself and your family,” COSAFA Under-20 Championship ambassador and former Botswana international Dipsy Selolwane said. “I was fortunate enough to study in the USA during my playing career and so now that I have retired I have the skills to move into the business world.

“Education can take you places that now you can only dream of but it comes with a lot of hard work. The rewards at the end can be life-changing though and that is the thought you should always hold on to.

PPC were represented by Client Relations Officer Anthea Windvogel, who also had words of encouragement for the leaners.

The Under-15 Schools Tournament has been used to highlight the upcoming COSAFA events that will be hosted in the North West province.

Aside from the COSAFA Under-20 Championships that will be staged from December 7-16, the 2017 COSAFA Castle Cup will also be played in the province in June next year.