Captain of the Midrand LFA champions Neasm Academy, speaks about football journey
Captain of Neasm Academy Koketso Matshaba hopes to steer the academy's ship to professional football after propelling them into the SAB Regional League.
Following their Midrand Local Football Association (MLFA) triumph, Koketso Matshaba, Neasm Football Academy captain, says he is ecstatic that his team won the league under his captaincy.
This means they will ply their trade in the much-sought SAB Regional League next season, and this will give them much-needed football experience to take a them a step closer to playing professional league.
The versatile Matshaba (20), who plays as a centre-back and central midfielder, said it was not easy for the team but he was glad that the Mighty Lord gave them the strength to make it this season.
“Last season we tried but unfortunately things didn’t come along. We ended up finishing third on the log and that’s when we saw it was possible to win the league. Luckily this season things came along and I’m so glad that we will be competing in the SAB league.” said Matshaba.
Raised by a single mother, together with his four other siblings in the small township of Lekaneng, Tembisa, Matshaba still resides there.
He says he fell in love with football at an early age when in his township, the only sport that was well-recognised was soccer. Matshaba says that’s where the passion comes from after seeing his peers playing as well.
“I started at the age of nine at my former primary school, Bojelong Primary School, and until today, I still play football. I’m hoping to archive more than what I have currently and play at the peak of South African football.”
He said the highlight of his football career was when he received a call from his coaches informing him that he will undergo trials with Kaizer Chiefs’ MultiChoice Diski Challenge in 2022. “I was really happy to have been able to reach such a magnificent feat. Although I didn’t get called up again or selected to join the team, I was happy and proud of the achievement – the opportunity and the valuable experience gained for training with Chiefs.”
After completing his matric in 2022, Masthaba said he took a gap year, and hopefully next year he will further his studies.
He says he will venture into sports-related courses.
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