SPORT: Young footballers earn Chelsea trip
Three out of the 25 were chosen to train with Chelsea after they spend a week-long training at the High-Performance Centre in Hatfield.
After a nationwide search for South Africa’s future football champions, the Shield Sbonisi’Diski announced their three winners on Tuesday.
These players earned the opportunity of a lifetime to train at the home of Chelsea FC in London, Cobham, from 12 September to 16 September this year.
The youngsters were chosen among 25 players, who spent a week-long training at the High-Performance Centre in Pretoria. Here the players were taken through vigorous training sessions by Chelsea FC coaches.
This year more than 600 players showed up for the Shield Sbonisi’Diski trials of which only three winners were selected.
The winners are Ryan Adams (20) from Durban, Thulo Thibatsi (20) from Johannesburg and Joshua Jerome Roman (21) from Cape Town.
Coach Siphiwe Mkhonza said he was happy with how the campaign went about.
“It took us a couple of weeks to choose the final three after months of scouting,” he said.
“We, as coaches, were guided by certain criteria. We looked ability, physicality, adaptability and other things that make you a good player.”
Mkhonza said the trio were well equipped and ready to play.
Ryan Adams told Rekord he was grateful for the opportunity.
“The trials were very competitive and I still don’t understand why some of the other guys are not playing professionally.”
“During the trails, I knew what I wanted, and more importantly, I was mentally tough. I told myself that I’m not going to be scared,” he said.
Adams sympathised with his other teammates who didn’t make the final three.
“There’s always a next time,” he said.
“I believe that at the end of the day, everyone is a winner because we pushed ourselves. My advice is that they must keep going and never give up.”
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