Excellent offer to join soccer school

Mpumalanga’s rapidly growing School of Excellence (MSE) has just opened its doors to disadvantaged children within the Mbombela municipal area.

Talented children, especially those from rural areas and disadvantaged family backgrounds, wish to be part of organised football academies, but are put off by fees.

This is one of the reasons why the MSE has decided to come into the space and bridge the gap by offering free training to disadvantaged children who are orphans, whose families live on social grants, and whose parents have low-paying jobs such as domestic workers and gardeners.

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“There are many talented boys and girls out there who really need this opportunity, but their parents cannot afford to pay for them. We have decided that we should not leave these children out,” said MSE founder and coach, Sizwe sama Yende.

“Parents can contact us and present their case, and we will take it from there. It is very expensive to run a football academy, but at the same time we must be mindful that diamonds are sometimes found by digging deeper in the bowels of the earth. It is very difficult to be involved in this project, because parents who can afford it just don’t believe that they have to pay for their children’s development,” Yende said.

“We are beginning to reap the fruits of our labour. Some of our products have obtained soccer scholarships and others are plying their trade in PSL reserve teams, GladAfrica and ABC Motsepe leagues. They have trusted our process, and took the time to develop. We did not rush them,” Yende said.
He said MSE also manages its graduates when they enter the semi-professional and professional level.

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“We do not manage our players like a business. We are like fathers to them. We push very hard, at our own costs, to get good contracts. Right now we are managing a player in the eSwatini Premier League and his team, Mbabane Highlanders, have qualified to play in the CAF Champions League next year.”

Parents and guardians of children who want to be part of this life-changing and career-building experience, may contact MSE on 079 528 9902 or visit its

Facebook page or website at www.mpschoolofexcellence.co.za.

MSE develops boys from u/13 to u/19. Their training ground is based at the Valencia Sport Complex.