Footballer takes his talent to the United States
Young Footballer sends footage to a United States university to get scouted.
WATERFALL resident and Hillcrest High School Old Boy, Nipho Methula, will be plying his trade at the Cloud County College in Kansas Missouri.
The 21-year-old, versatile footballer, who plays mainly at right-back, will be studying Sports Communications over the next four years.
Methula is no stranger to taking his talents overseas. He had a stint in Sao Paulo, Brazil, when he played for Vila Carolina’s under-20s. After his short, but beneficial stay at the home of his idol, Neymar Jr, Methula has featured for local side Highway United as well as the Clive Barker Academy.
Methula, like most young footballers in our technology-driven world do, made numerous compilation videos of himself playing the beautiful game and sent the footage to various universities in the United States of America.
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Methula’s proactive way of getting himself scouted led to him receiving offers from a few universities. Nipho says he chose Cloud County because:
“I felt like it was the best fit for me.”
Methula also advised up-and-coming footballers to get footage of themselves in action.
“Get as much playing footage as you can,” said the speedy Methula. “Do a lot of research on academies and universities and get their contact details to ask further questions and of course, send your footage,” he added.
Patience is also key in this process and Methula highlighted this when I spoke to him, “Your time will come,” he said.
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As an athlete who’s a product of the developmental structures in South Africa, Methula points out the administrators are not getting the best out of the talent in this country.
“I feel like we aren’t where we should be because if we looked after the talent here, then we will be among the best in the world, it’s the basic structures that are letting us down from a young age.”
In terms of his general play, Methula feels that he works hard off the ball in terms of pressing the opposition but admits he can improve. “I hope to improve my decision-making in key areas of the pitch.”
Methula expresses gratitude for the support he receives at home. “I receive a lot of support from my family, they’re happy I’m doing what I love and now I’m able to study which is a bonus.”
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