Alex coach highlights off-field struggles threatening young footballers
A local sports club and arts foundation join forces to help Alexandra youth overcome domestic hardship and stay focused on positive paths.
Alex Black Poison coach Phathutshedzo Maseko believes socio-economic challenges, rather than a lack of skill or injury, can shatter a young footballer’s professional ambitions.
As coach of the club’s development division, he knows better than most how an empty stomach or a conflict-ridden home can keep a player from reaching their full potential on the field.
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“It really does affect them because you sometimes witness that even their performance declines, and when you ask, one would say they did not eat or that there is an issue at home,” he said, adding that this is the reality for some players in Alexandra.
He was speaking after the Alex Opera Concert Outreach, hosted by the Joey De Tenor Foundation in partnership with Alex Black Poison FC, at the Alex Safe Hub on October 28.
Maseko said outreach programmes that focus on young people’s overall development are necessary to help the youth navigate their challenges.
“It is important because as a club we are not supposed to focus on life on the field alone, but also on the outside part of life, including their home situation,” he said.
He added that such programmes also help shield players from negative influences on the streets, such as substance abuse.
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“There are so many things that we, as a club and Joey De Tenor, felt we could educate them about on life outside of football,” he said.
Building responsible future leaders
Joey Mabusela, founder of the Joey De Tenor Foundation, said their aim was to motivate, inspire and encourage young people to remain disciplined and to always strive for more.
Mabusela said the message should spread across the community and to other clubs, adding: “This is very important for child growth and development.”
Mabusela said such initiatives have the potential to address social issues in the community.
“Imagine if in our time, we had people who did this for us. There would be less gender-based violence. So, we are trying to make sure that we build responsible future leaders,” Mabusela said.
The event formed part of the build-up to an opera event that Mabusela said will be held in Alexandra.
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