Striking Fero into his opponents
This is what Ingabade High School soccer team’s influential captain and midfielder, Falakha ‘Fero’ Tshanini expects when the team competes in the national championships of the SAFA Under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup, in Gauteng.
Good exposure to Premier Soccer League talent scouts.
This is what Ingabade High School soccer team’s influential captain and midfielder, Falakha ‘Fero’ Tshanini expects when the team competes in the national championships of the SAFA Under-19 Sanlam Kay Motsepe Cup, in Gauteng.
The country’s lucrative schools’ soccer tournament features 18 teams from the nine provinces, and kicked off on October 6, ending on October 10 at the Nike Centre in Soweto, Johannesburg, where the national champions will win a whopping R1-million first prize and a floating trophy.
Ingabade High is one of two KwaZulu-Natal schools in competition.
Ingabade is in the rural village of Nyanyadu, near Dannhauser, and Sukuma Comprehensive High School hails from Edendale, Pietermaritzburg.
“It is an honour on its own for us to represent Amajuba District and the province at a national level, given the fact we are a rural school without good facilities like those of urban areas. However, we are determined to represent our district and province with pride, and most importantly for most of us, a tournament of this magnitude will give us rare exposure to PSL talent scouts, if we perform well,” explained the 18-year-old Falakhe.
Born and bred in the rural village of West Spot Farm in Nyanyadu, the strongly-built Falakhe can play as both a left back and central midfielder, and is one of the most talented and promising youngsters from the rural parts of Amajuba District, needing proper guidance to reach their true potential in the soccer arena.
Coming from a soccer-fond family, his two late elder brothers were notable players in the village, with Falakhe himself featuring for Junior United at the age of nine.
He then joined The Birds FC, one of the competitive sides in Stream A of the SAFA Amajuba SAB Regional League, before turning out for SAFA ABC Motsepe League side, Wembezi Juventus last season.
“I have always been passionate about soccer, ever since I was a little boy. I dream of playing in the PSL one day, following in the footsteps of homeboy, Khethukuthula ‘Naro’ Zwane, who plays for University of Pretoria in the PSL.”
Former coach at Juventus, Mbuso Ndlovu strongly believes Falakhe has huge potential in soccer if he can stay as grounded and disciplined as he is.
In August, Falakhe lead his school team to triumph, when they became Amajuba District’s champions at the annual Dr Mathaila Soccer Spectacular, and this is the second time the school represents KZN.
Two years ago, the team participated in the National School Sport Championships in Mangaung, in the Free State.
