Young footballers jet off to Italy
Three football players from Springs Local Football Association are packed and ready to travel to Italy for the Soncini Games.
KwaThema – Female soccer players Bontle Sibila (16) and Gugu Nkosi (15), and male soccer player Lebogang Matshaba (16) will be leaving for the games on July 4 and will return July 14.
The annual games are played to honour the legacy of the late stalwart OR Tambo who lived in the town during his years in exile.
The partnership was formed to develop sports between the two countries by the late struggle hero Walter Sisulu during his stay in the country.
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Proud parent Ntombiendle Dlamini ( Gugulethu’s mother) says she is proud of her son, Lebogang, for being selected to participate in the tournament.
“This is the beginning of bigger things to happen to their careers in sports.
“We appreciate the support and hard work the coaches put in to craft their skills on the field.
“I was not always supportive,” she says.
Lebohang’s mother, Mathabo Matshaba, says she wasn’t always supporting her son who participated in soccer.
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“I felt it was taking more time off his studies but now that I can see that he is talented and I am supporting him,” she says.
SLFA Technical Advisor, Mkhonza Mkhonzana, says this is an opportunity of a lifetime because the players have an opportunity to be scouted during the tournament.
“It is always good for players to make it while they are still young because it makes it easy to develop them,” he says.
Mkhonzana says they are encouraging parents to allow their children to participate in sports.
“Sports exposes them to many opportunities both nationally and internationally,” he says.
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