Young Benonian’s soccer talent blossoms in the United States
Both academically and on the sports field, the Benoni youngster hasn’t disappointed and has just commenced his senior year where he majors in international business.
A talent for soccer has taken a former Benoni resident straight from the school classroom towards a college education in the United States.
No sooner had Keagan Bailie (22) finished his school career at Benoni High School in 2015, than the window of opportunity was flung open for him in both the sporting and educational spheres, ironically by another Benonian, Mike Lee.
Lee, who was residing in Michigan at the time, arranged for the gifted teenager to be whisked off to play for a semi-professional club, Ole’ FC, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the rest is history.
The unfolding success story had already been taking shape when he started capturing attention while still at high school, and accumulated a number of personal and team age-group tournament accolades at that level.
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By his Grade 11 year, he had fallen under the mentorship of Sidney Frewen, head director of the Bonearo Park-based Heroes Futbol Association (HFA) and was already playing first team football at Old Benonians.
HFA assists talented young players to potentially extend their football career at a professional or semi-professional level.
The move to Michigan proved to be a gateway into the highly competitive US Collegiate system, and he was recruited by Davenport University head coach Chris Hughes, who offered him a scholarship.
In his freshman (first) year, the central midfielder was part of his team’s march towards the State finals. He featured in the Inter-Collegiate league-title winning side in 2017 and played in the top-flight NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) Division One competition last season.
