Andile, the young soccer star
Growing up in the township is what Andile says helped him know what he wants to pursue as a career.
Andile Nkosi (16) was born in Langaville.
He did his primary education at Qedusizi Primary School in KwaThema and is now a Grade 11 learner at Mamellong Comprehensive School in Tsakane.
Andile started to play soccer at the age of four at home when his older brother, Nkosinathi came back from his soccer training sessions.
It was when he was nine years old that Andile started to play at the KwaThema Sports Complex, playing for the Jealous Down team.
When playing at the complex, Andile knew that the day would come when his talent would not only be seen by Kwatsaduza soccer fans but be recognised by the teams in the Premier Soccer League (PSL).
Playing for the U/15 team was a life changing experience for Andile especially after the interest shown by the Wits University Development team management to him following a friendly game between the Wits Development team and the Jealous Down.
“I went to the trials in September 2011 and officially joined the Wits Development team in November 2011,” said Andile.
He said the one thing that his coach Mzeke Mtshali taught him, that is also working for him even when playing for the Wits team, is to be confident and play the soccer that he knows the best.
“I am always confident and do what I do best on the pitch,” said Andile.
He said in soccer his role model is Christiano Ronaldo.
“Ronaldo is not only a soccer star but he is also involved in charity work, helping the needy children in his country,” he said.
At the age of 18, Andile said he wants to see himself being promoted from the development team to playing in the Premier Soccer League.
“Always play to the best of your ability as you may never know if who is watching,” Andile encouraged his Jealous Down team-mates.
Coach Mtshali said the first day he saw Andile playing soccer at the age of five years he knew that he would become a star.
He said he was not surprised by Andile’s achievement by being chosen to join the Wits team as, during his many years of coaching, most players took less than three months to be perfect on the field.
“I am very proud of Andile and there is no doubt that he was born to be a soccer star,” said proud coach Mtshali.
