U17 football players have a great start to their season at KaMhlushwa Stadium
This development league gives each team a chance to showcase its talent and to train them to be ready for the bigger teams.
The Safa Forek U17 Developmental League kicked off the season on a high note as the teams battled during their first games at KaMhlushwa Stadium on Saturday April 13.
This league gives talented young football players the opportunity to showcase their skills while gaining exposure with scouts. This season, it features 25 football teams, which is an expansion from last season’s 16 teams. It will be divided into two streams in the Ehlanzeni District and will be staged in all the different local municipalities, which are Nkomazi, City of Mbombela, Bushbuckridge and Thaba Chweu.
The teams in the first stream participated in their first game at KaMhlushwa and those in the second played at the Thulamahashe Stadium/KaBokweni Stadium on Sunday April 14.
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David Nkosi of Forek said it was a great start for the teams. KaMaqhekeza Sunrise faced KaMaqhekeza Football Academy. These two Nkomazi teams gave a great performance, however, neither scored a goal. Ehlanzeni United AC played against Barberton Academy and won 1-0. Harmony Sports AC played against Mp School of Excellence. The match ended with a 2-2 draw. Mbombela City Stars did not stand chance against the Umkhonto Young Stars; their game ended in 2-1. Nkosi said these teams will get an opportunity to play again.
“We have 12 games in the first round and 12 in the second. These players do not have to qualify as we are a development league.”
He said they prepare these players for the big teams and to be professional players.
The Forek Group’s CEO, Ernest Chinyuke, said the league seeks to develop all the participants, which is more vital than just handing over the ultimate prize to the victor. “We want to improve the players’ attitudes and develop them along with the coaches. We encourage the football clubs to make use of the Mpumalanga Department of Education’s Wednesday School Sports Day Programme, where they can adopt new players and more extensive training for both coaches and players.
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“As an educational institution, what we have planned to do differently from the last season is to fund D Licence Coaching Courses for dedicated coaches. We also offer bursaries for the young players to be not only developed in football, but academics as well. We want to give everyone, including the referees involved, an opportunity to uplift themselves,” he said.
