Final 18-member Nedbank Ke Yona squad handpicked

The final 18-member football squad to take on the current Nedbank Cup Champions was handpicked from thousands of aspiring footballers between the ages of 18 and 25 by the experienced soccer coaching quartet of Shakes Mashaba, Owen Da Gama, Khabo Zondo and Mike Mangena.

The 2015 edition of South Africa’s largest soccer talent search attracted more than 40 000 entries and got underway earlier this year in Mpumalanga, Free State, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng.

From the six provinces, 48 players were selected and invited to an intense boot camp at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria where they were trained and conditioned by the best sports scientists, while working closely with the four Ke Yona coaches.

Not only did the boys experience high-quality training methods but Nedbank also provided financial education to the players that will assist them in making sound financial decisions in their professional football careers.

The Ke Yona team search, which roughly translated means this is it, or this is the one, has proven to live up to its name for many aspiring soccer players who have since gone on to make their soccer dreams happen.

Speaking at the announcement, Nedbank’s group executive for marketing, communications and corporate affairs, Thulani Sibeko wished the selected squad the best of luck as they entered into a new phase of their journey to becoming professional soccer players.

“We are proud to make the things that really matter happen for these young men who have taken one step closer of playing professional football,” said Sibeko.

The Ke Yona Team will return to the High Performance Centre in Pretoria on 27 August for their final preparations for their highly-anticipated match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria on 6 September.

Details: www.nedbankcup.co.za