Olympiacos FC Johannesburg U17s nurture talent and life skills
Life lessons and techniques that can be applied outside football are what the U17 team at Olympiacos are gaining through the development program.
The Olympiacos Football Club (FC) Johannesburg U17 team is a group of young aspiring footballers with a common dream to one day become footballers in one capacity or another.
U17 head coach, Patrick Tsima, said these players know firsthand that not all of them will make it as professional footballers, so the books are as important for their future wishes.
The coach, who recently obtained a Confederation of African Football A License, said what inspired him to become a head coach was the opportunity to impact young players’ lives through the ‘beautiful game’.
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“When many have their own way of human development, mine comes through football. That is fulfilling!”
Tsima noted that being part of an international club like Olympiacos FC Johannesburg gives the young players hope.
He added, “With such a name on their chest, in the form of a badge, they know that football people are paying attention and are watching them. And we indeed do have important people watching what we are doing – this encourages us to continue working hard.”
Tsima’s everyday quote is “Trouble with opportunity is that it always comes disguised as hard work.”
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The overall philosophy Tsima instils in the squad is, “For as long as we don’t lose the ball, the opposition can never hurt us”.
He explained it to mean that the team does everything with the ball and tries to keep possession as long as possible.
When they lose it, he said they have limited time to recover it, because the longer the opposition holds it, the riskier it is for them.
The qualities that Olympiacos FC Johannesburg looks for in young aspiring footballers are discipline, hard work, and commitment.
Coaching involves a lot of teaching, as Tsima has learned.
He also came to realise that this teaching is not only football-related but also encompasses many life lessons and techniques that can be applied outside football.
The coach acknowledged that no technical skill is ever enough – no matter your level, you keep on improving through coaching.
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Coach Tsima said such football development programs are very important because they can help children develop early in life.
It is also for their personal development so that they become good citizens of the country and the world.
According to the coach, the challenges faced by young footballers in South Africa compared to those abroad include a shortage of such programs, and even when they are available, they are not easily accessible to every young player.
Tsima observed that in recent years, many South African professional football teams have not only given young players opportunities through reserve leagues, but also rewarded them with professional contracts. It’s exciting to see that a young footballer in SA can dream once again, he expressed.
At Olympiacos, they have three level opportunities:
• Olympiacos in the Easterns League
• Joburg City FC GDL Academy
• Joburg City FC – SAFA Regional League.
Coach Tsima said it would be fulfilling to see these youngsters progress through their academy programmes, graduating into the first team and/or finding better opportunities elsewhere.
He shared this message with aspiring footballers: “Stay in the game – stay relevant – work harder than the next best player you know. Opportunity exists only if you can see it.”
