Bongmusa Nkosi aiming for the big leagues

Bongmusa Sinethemba (Hade) Nkosi lives and breathes soccer and this is evident with him having represented the Mpumalanga soccer team at U/17 and U/18 level.

This 18-year-old sees himself playing for his favourite soccer team, Kaizer Chiefs, in the near future.

Currently signed to VOC United Football Club, his soccer career spans seven years and he is reaching his peak as a player.

His journey began at the young age of 12 when he played for his school team at Qambekile Primary School.

It was there where he noticed his love and talent for the sport after helping his team to provincial and national glory in a primary school’s soccer tournament in Cape Town.

His coach saw potential in him and encouraged him to attend every soccer trial in Ermelo and to participate in various tournaments, including the Danone and Coca Cola Primary School’s Cups.

“This encouraged me to pursue soccer and I attended many soccer trials until I was chosen to represent Mpumalanga at U/17 level,” Bongmusa said.

Bongmusa was one of two players from Ermelo playing for the provincial team at the time.

However, nurturing his talent clashed with his school work.

“I often had to leave school to play for the provincial team, but my teachers were really understanding and helped me when I got left behind with the curriculum.”

With that much exposure, local teams began to take note and he was recruited to play for the VOC United FC that was playing in their first season of the SAB Soccer League.

After internal disputes, Bongmusa left the club to play for another local team, this time Mafia Football Club.

Bongmusa is not shy to admit he has played for most of the local teams, having played for three of the four of the SAB league sides, namely VOC United, Mafia FC and Ermelo United.

“I was an Ermelo United player in the recently completed season,” he said.

A champion at heart, Bongmusa craves for silverware and recently went back and signed with his first team of VOC United.

“I want to win the SAB League and I think a team like VOC United will help me in achieving that.”

Bongmusa will be playing for United in the upcoming season which begins in August and is currently hard at work with preseason training.

He hopes this move will open more doors for him as he sees himself in the big leagues and possibly on the international stage.

“Ideally I would love to play for Mpumalanga again on U/21 level because that experience was a once in lifetime opportunity as we travelled through most of South Africa.”

Bongmusa is currently studying towards his qualification in electrical engineering at Gert Sibande TVET College.

A first year student, he has to juggle his love for soccer and academics.

“Yes, I want to make soccer my career, however, in the meantime I am doing my certificate so I can fall back on something if soccer does not pan out.”

This young man will be in action in the SAB Soccer League for VOC United as they pursue championship glory.