Safa Gauteng official gives away a closely guarded secret
JOBURG -– The secret is out and grassroots development coaches need to take note of this.
South African Football Association (Safa) Gauteng provincial chairperson Willie Mooka has let the cat out of the bag on a closely guarded secret that most grassroots development coaches may not be aware of.
Speaking at the launch of the 17th edition of the annual Discovery Walter Sisulu Soccer Challenge at Discovery Place in Sandton on 18 November, Mooka urged development coaches to keep the registration documents of their young players in a safe place for future use.
He said if one of the coaches’ prodigies happened to make a name for themselves and gets signed by a top team, the coaches at grassroots level also have a share in the signing-on fee that the club pays for that particular player.
“All you need to do is produce the documentary proof that he was your player, and such proof will include the registration cards for the player with his name and picture on it and you are entitled to a 10 per cent or so share on the signing-on fee for the role you played in the development of the player,” he said.
Mooka added that grassroots coaches played ‘a crucial role in the development and nurturing of the stars of today and most of them do not know that they are entitled to a certain percentage portion of the signing-on fee of that particular player’.
“All they need is to arm themselves with documentary proof and lodge a claim with Safa.”
He urged the coaches not to be taken for a ride by the big clubs that would promise them balls and other soccer equipment in exchange for their role in the moulding of the player. “There is much more than those lousy balls you’re being offered.”
Coaches can also let their next of kin know about the documents, in case they die, so they too can claim on behalf of the coaches. Relatives need to produce a death certificate and other relevant identification documents.
Meanwhile, the games of the tournament begin on 1 December and carry on until the 29 December at the Nike Football Training Centre in Klipspruit, Soweto, and will see 64 teams vying for the championship of this tournament which is hosted under the auspices of the Soweto Football Association.
The association’s president Phil Mogodi, who is also president of the Safa Joburg Region, wished all the teams well in the tournament.
Related Article:
Safa Joburg Region steps in to stop infighting in Alex football
