Tembisan soccer star shines
Philly's game create opportunities for up coming soccer players to show case their talents and be discovered by big teams on the professional side
Tembisa’s 22-year-old soccer star to play for Jomo Cosmos FC.
Ezenkosi will deploy Lefa “Sdumo” Hlongwane in a striking position to do what he does best.
This humble young man was the talk of the town after he shone in the Tembisa festive season’s Philly’s games. Even though Umlilo, the team he represented on Kasi’s dusty grounds, lost at the quarter finals against the rebels, Hlongwane still feels Philly’s games are a good initiative and he reckons aspiring soccer players should take advantage and participate.
“Philly’s game create opportunities for up coming soccer players to showcase their talents and be discovered by big teams on the professional side,” said Hlongwane.
This determined young man made it against all odds as his family could not afford to buy him soccer boots. His eyes were set on bigger dreams and nothing could stop him.
“Young people must shun the notion that there is somebody who plays better than them. Playing with good professional soccer players must motivate them instead,” said Hlongwane.
He said he had a lot of challenges from the beginning and he had to work hard and have self belief to conquer them.
This former pupil of Welamlambo Primary School grew up playing soccer.
“My brother was also a soccer player and he would take me with to his training sessions. He advised me to play with my peers and that is when I joined Phomolong Sundowns band. Thereafter I moved on to Phomolong Young Movers and Dribbling Wizzards. All these were on the dusty grounds”, said Hlongwane.
He said in 2012 his whole under 17 team was given an opportunity to play in Shirfield’s first team. After Shirfield he went on to play for FC Dinare which was playing in the Vodacom League.
“I came in the second round towards the end of the season. I was discovered on dusty grounds,” he said. “That same year, FC Dinare was sold and my coach, Kholakele Lavenza, took me to ama-BEE, who were playing in the Castle League and we won the league. In Vodacom we qualified in the last 32 teams.”
According to Hlongwane, after his stint at the teams, he went on to try for Royal Eagles which would become his first professional team. “I was signed up and I played there for one year six months,” he said.
