Liverpool legends coach youngsters at Old Bens
Liverpool fans were thrilled to see some stars of yesteryear.
Local fans, young and old, of English Premier League side Liverpool FC enjoyed a terrific treat when three Anfield legends visited Old Bens Football Club on Human Rights Day, March 21, to assist at a holiday coaching clinic.
The trio of former Liverpool stars John Barnes, Steve McManaman and Robbie Fowler came to South Africa for a three-day stint to pay homage to Nelson Mandela in the year of what would have been his 100th birthday as part of the #Liverpool4Madiba experience.
Their visit to Benoni was made possible by the Metro Stars Football Development Centre, an independent, academy-style coaching company comprising former professional players, coaches and sports medical professionals.
Bernie Coutinho, a former Aston Villa and Wits player, who runs the Metro Starts Football Development Centre in Benoni, said that about 180 players from all over Gauteng took part in the clinic, including previously disadvantaged players from three Daveyton schools.
Regarding the Liverpool legends’ interaction with the children, he said: “Hopefully it is an experience these kids will remember forever.
“It’s about giving the players the best footballing experience that we can.
“Learning from our local coaches is great, but we want to expose them to some of the European coaches and players that they’ll probably never get to see.
“The likelihood of them meeting John Barnes, for example, again is going to be pretty rare.”
On the partnership with Old Bens, Coutinho said: “We have been going in Benoni in partnership with Old Bens for close to three years.
“The talent (both boys and girls) is there for everyone to see.
“We have two players who played at Old Bens through the Metro Stars programme who are now playing u-17 football at the AmaZulu PS Academy.
“Football is alive in Benoni.
“It’s just a matter of getting players the right coaching which can give them the best possible future.”
Coutinho himself is one of Old Bens’ favourite sons.
“I have played football here all my life and was scouted on the field here.
“Now I am trying to give something back to the club.
“Old Bens is one of the smaller clubs in the Easterns league, so we are trying to help grow it through our partnership by attracting players to join the club and the Metro Stars programme.”
The City Times spoke to former Liverpool, Real Madrid and Manchester City midfielder McManaman to find out a bit more about the legends’ South African visit.
“We are here as part of a Liverpool City Council collaboration with the Nelson Mandela Foundation.
“They are currently building a memorial for Nelson Mandela in Liverpool.
“We are also attending a gala dinner to raise money for charities here.
“Today we are helping out at a soccer clinic and it amazing that so many children have turned up.
“How can you not have an amazing time when all the children have smiles on the faces and you see all the parents enjoying themselves?
“Sport unites everybody,
“Everybody here is talking to each other and part of a team.”
“When you can get out on the football field, no matter what background you are from, it’s always great.”
WATCH Robbie Fowler having some fun with the children:
LISTEN to the Caxton Radio Benoni audio on the Liverpool legends’ visit:
https://soundcloud.com/benoni-city-times/caxton-radio-benoni-logie-g-liverpool-football-clinic-at-old-bens
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