Hard work and dedication have paid off for three young soccer players who recently secured a spot in the Phillys Games, held on December 19 and broadcast on SuperSport TV.

Two of the boys, Mphikelelio Bafo Mpilo (11) and Shaun Collins (10), the son of coach Timothy “Shadow” Collins, hail from De Bruin FC, based in Ermelo, while the third, Sphe Simelane (15), is from eMkhondo. Mphikelelio and Shaun played in the U13 division, but unfortunately, they did not make it to the finals.

However, Sphe Simelane had an outstanding performance—he went on to captain both the U15 and U17 teams, and he was also the leading goal scorer in the tournament.

His teams emerged victorious in the finals, which were aired live on SuperSport from the semi-final onward.

Their journey to the games began with weekend training sessions at a soccer academy in Midrand.

This opportunity was made possible through the unwavering support of “Shadow” Collins, who also happens to be one of the founding members of De Bruin FC, who transported the boys to the academy.

Collins highlighted the importance of community support, thanking Samaritans such as Silviya Breytenbach, Roxy Bach, and Juliette Basson and Bra Steve for their generous donations of soccer nets, clothing, and other resources.

“Through hard work and dedication, along with the help of kind-hearted individuals, these boys have reaped the rewards,” Collins said.

Read the complete article in Highvelder.