Inspiring journey leads to Highlands North football team
This local refused to give up, even going through all that he had last year.
Alex Richard Chetty (16), a Benoni High School learner and Rynfield resident, has recently been selected for the Highlands Park North football team.
His love of football started when he was only in Grade One.
“I started at Benoni Northerns as a defender,” Chetty explained.
“Then, one day I decided to try the position of goalkeeper and my coach at the time, Ryan Braybrooke, said I was a natural.”
During this time, Alex was selected as Player of the Year three times, consecutively.
“I was in Arbor Primary School at the time and was chosen as captain of the school’s senior team. We won the soccer trophy at the end of 2018,” he said. “Unfortunately, the team folded at Northerns and this is when I moved to Bonaero Football Club, where I had many mentors.”
At the age of 13, Alex was asked to play for the u-13 and u-15 teams at Bonaero and subsequently won the chairperson’s award.
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“While playing for the u-15 team I was asked to play for u-17 too,” he said. “I chose to stay with the u-17s at the age of 15 and during this time was also selected for Easterns.”
Before the matches for Easterns got underway, Chetty broke his arm.
“Then, Covid hit last year and the football season didn’t even start,” he explained. “Last year was a difficult one for me, and I had to see a psychologist for a couple of months to overcome my fear and anxiety.”
But this local refused to give up, even going through all that he had last year, he maintained practising his football at home.
“I was then asked to come to Highlands by Les Grobler, to see how I would do. It was through this experience that I met Nigerian goalkeeper Greg Etafia,” Chetty said. “Greg took me for one-on-one training sessions from December to February.”
It turns out, the Highlands team have Etafia to thank as he was the one who told Alex to try out for the Highlands team – which he did and was selected to play for the u-17s at just 15 years old.
“I train five times a week and play games on Saturdays,” Chetty said. “Greg encourages me to be the best I can be and to never doubt myself or my faith.”
He also plays for the East Rand Young Boys indoor football team on Thursday nights, has participated in the
Greater Benoni sports event for high jump and long jump and won many medals for these, as well as taking up the position of deputy head boy at Arbor Primary.
“His dedication is unbelievable,” said Kim Marx, Chetty’s mother. “If it wasn’t for the teachers and Mr Arentsen at Arbor, Alex wouldn’t be the beautiful boy he is today. He is so humble and respectful. I am very proud of my son. I am very proud of all my children.”
Chetty believes in never giving up, fighting for what you want and maintaining a positive outlook on life.
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“Just keep on going and always have faith. Without faith you won’t have a future,” he said. “I would like to thank my mother, my family, Greg and my girlfriend for their support. My mom is the most important person in my life. She has always been there for me and I wouldn’t be who I am or where I am if it wasn’t for her.”
