South African Team with their trophy: Back: Bongumusa Khapela, Lindokuhle Zaca, Samkelo Mbili, Mrs Thenjiwe Ngcobo. Front: Mlamle Hadebe, Mandy Zuma, Siphesihle Zuma, Bongeka Zuma (Photographer: Nikki Brighton)

After a morning of play offs, penalty shoot outs and lots of noise last Sunday, South Africa emerged as the Senior champions in the Corrie Lynn Primary School Mini-World Cup Soccer Tournament. In the Junior section, USA overcame a determined Brazil to take top honours.

Teams paraded onto the field bearing the flags of their countries for the opening game was between South Africa and France. Past pupils, neighbours and parents joined in the fun, donated oranges and cakes and brought along their vuvuzelas to encourage the players. After all the action, the winning teams received "Soccer Dlamini Trophies" donated by Zulu Lulu Trading and the runners up received Africa Geographic magazines.

Phillip Gumede and his team of Midlands Meander Diski Dancers taught everyone how to do the dance, although many (particularly the Groovy Girls from Ghana) had already been practicing.

This year Corrie Lynn Primary is aiming to achieve their International Green Flag after 5 years of consistent work towards WWF/WESSA Eco-Schools Status. When planning their programme for the year with the MMAEP they chose investigate the "environmental impacts of the World Cup" for the theme Local and Global Issues, and understanding. Earlier in the term they chose their teams, researched the national flags and spent a colourful, sunny day painting flags with the Midlands Meander Education Project facilitators. They were fascinated to learn that the environment would be affected by the World Cup and were particularly concerned about all the litter that would be discarded (pleased to hear it would all be recycled), and were shocked to think about all the extra sewerage which would have to be dealt with! Educator, Mrs Thenjiwe Ngcobo, will follow up with a lesson on the environmental impact of their school tournament – looking at the carbon emissions produced to get there and the waste generated by all the food.

Everyone thoroughly enjoyed their action filled morning, although strong contenders Ivory Coast were disappointed to only be runners up. Captain Sibusiso Cele said they had been practicing hard all week. However, their player, Spesihle Mncube was crowned best defender and they certainly are champions of the break time games.