A love of the game prioritised at Ruimsig-based football club

The desire to put in the lung-busting runs on the pitch and regimental discipline off it, is not taught but nurtured deep in the heart of young players.

Nestled on a tree-lined plot, painstakingly crafted by the Tuffney family, Education Through Soccer (ETS) has grown from a plucky offshoot, to a highly respected contributor to the local footballing landscape. Started by UEFA A-licensed coach Lloyd Tuffney and UEFA B-carrying Shawn Tuffney in 2013, the father and son pair have evolved their vast English football network into a footballing hub under the Johannesburg sky.

The latest feather in their cap is a dedicated partnership with Premier League team, West Bromwich Albion. ETS is now the first West Bromwich Albion Foundation skills centre in Africa and will serve as the base for the Albion Foundation’s growth on the continent. “ETS is a very forward-thinking and ambitious club, and as such we discuss ways we can engage with players and coaches, and provide the best football opportunities. As a result we achieve our objectives of developing an Albion Family, no matter where in the world the partner club is,” said Albion Foundation head of sport, Dave Lawrence.

Another special addition to the ETS offering is the inclusion of training and metrics platform, Soccer Profile. The brainchild of Stuart Monk and his brother, former Swansea City stalwart, Garry Monk, Soccer Profile allows players and coaches to track their performances through a series of assessments, metrics and analytical tools. Soccer Profile tracks and compares players from amateur level to top professionals, and is free to registered ETS members.

Giving players an international platform is important to ETS but it is not at the core of their footballing philosophy. “This focus on finding elite talent at a young age is hurting our game. We should be making sure they are playing with a smile on their face instead of pressuring them to be elite. It is not about trophies, but about how much you love the game,” said Lloyd, who has given much of his life to the sport.

ETS takes in players from U/5 and has a partnership with pathway development academy, Transition Football, for their teenage age groups, playing in the Soweto Academy League. Thereafter, the senior team, featuring players from U/18 to U/23, play in the Rand Central Local Football Association promotional league. Greatness can not be forced or contrived, but cultured eyes can see when the opportunity lays before them.