Due to their ongoing achievements, the Young Lions Sports Academy has been chosen to represent our area in a higher league.

According to the owner of the Academy, Banyele Cedric Gulwa, they only started in 2021. The club, which is based in Carletonville, however, managed to end as the best club in their area the year after and has not looked back since.

The club was recently selected by the Merafong City Local Football Association (MFLA) to represent our area at the Gauteng Development Promotion League, in which the best teams from across the province compete.

Gulwa (37), a former professional player for the Manzini Wanderers club from Eswatini (formerly known as Swaziland), says he has always believed that soccer can change lives. “I never thought that I would be able to have a beautiful house, but I was able to get this through football. The sport can give boys a second option in life. Many local players have the talent, but they just need an opportunity to develop this,” says Gulwa.

Although the club has its home in Carletonville, it gives an opportunity to players from towns all over the Merafong City Local Municipality to show off and develop their skills in the sport. They even have players from informal housing areas such as Rooipoort and Madala Site at Watersedge.

They currently practice next to the Carletonville Hospital and on the grounds at Letsatsing Village. The club has U13, U15, U17 and U19 teams.

“We will start in the higher league at the end of February 2025 and are looking forward to taking on the big teams,” says Gulwa.