Sidlal’idiski Academy begins to take shape

‘You can never keep a good man down no matter how hard you may try’.

This old saying seems to ring true of the hardships that Mogomotsi Mabena, better known in football circles as Doctor, has gone through in his quest to establish the Sidlal’idiski Sports Academy in Alexandra.

He was almost stopped in his tracks by the powers that be in football in Alexandra who were adamant that only the Alexandra Northrand Local Football Association had the right to establish a football academy in the area of its jurisdiction.

But determined as he was and armed with the full knowledge of the South African Football Association rules and regulations, Doctor managed

to overcome that obstacle and set up his academy at MC Weiler Primary School early this year.

On Mandela Day, Doctor was delighted to host visitors to his academy. “I am happy the work of the academy is beginning to bear fruit and recognition, even far beyond borders of this township,” Doctor said in his welcome to the visitors of the South African Breweries (SAB) Egoli Region.

Led by their regional marketing manager Matthew Brownell, 21 staffers from the marketing department of the Egoli Region descended on the

Football for Hope academy at the Altrec Sports Complex to play football with Doctor’s prodigies for more than the stipulated 67 minutes for Mandela Day activities.

The Egoli Region entourage did not come empty handed. They brought 22 new pairs of football boots for the players of Sidlal’idiski Sports Academy and also secured a donation of a laptop to help with the academy’s administration. Brownell also secured an all-expenses-paid business course for one of the two active directors of the academy, Doctor or coach Pule Tladi, at the Gibbs Institute in Illovo.

“We will also work closely with Doctor and his colleague in setting up their website for the academy and hope the site and the course, which is about imparting fundraising skills for non-profit organisations, will go a long way towards the academy’s self-reliance initiative,” Brownell said.

“We hope this relationship will not be a one-off act of kindness but a relationship to ensure the academy can stand on its own feet.”

Doctor said the only way he could thank his visitors for their wonderful gesture was by ensuring the success of the academy, which will mean their investment had not gone to waste.

Sidlal’idiski means ‘Let’s play soccer’.