Young Northerns defender eager to play professionally

Despite the challenges facing many aspiring footballers in the country, defender Ethan Liversage harbours a strong ambition to become a professional football player.

This is a dream he had from a young age.

Liversage, a central defender for Benoni Northerns Football Club, is aware of the difficulties youngsters like him go through to secure professional contracts in the country, but he is determined and prepared to overcome all those hurdles.

“I wanted to play professionally from when I first kicked the ball at a young age. I haven’t looked back since,” he said.

While he is not gifted aerially, an essential attribute for central defenders, he is adept with the ball at his feet.
What he lacks in height, he makes up for in his reading of different match situations and solid marking.
He is a strong tackler, an attribute Liversage prides himself in.

“I was tough, but football is a tough game. You have to keep pushing if it is something you want to do as a career.”

The 17-year-old’s journey started at Old Bens where he learnt the basics of the game.

He went through the ranks, playing for different age groups before getting the opportunity of a lifetime – to play for Orlando Pirates juniors.

His two months at Pirates were important for his development as his game improved massively and executed now what he learnt in Mayfair in the SAFA Ekurhuleni Hollywoodbets Regional League for Northerns.

“At Pirates the speed of the game was different, and also how you handle your own pace of the game. They didn’t like it if we played long balls. We were always reminded to stay calm and keep playing.”

The Ashton International College learner models his game around Liverpool defender Virgil van Dyk, one of the best central defenders in the world currently, and is particularly impressed by the Dutch national’s leadership of the line and reading of the game.

“He is solid. You cannot get past him. I want to play like him,” Liversage said.

While he still has time on his side, he will not rest on his laurels but will improve so that when an opportunity to play professionally arises, he grabs it with both hands.

“Turning pro would mean everything. Even making it professionally here in South Africa has been a dream my whole life. It Is all I ever wanted.”

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