Local soccer stars head to overseas trials
Soccer players from Umbilo Secondary School, Glenwood High School and Durban High School will travel overseas for trials in Portugal and Scotland.
THREE local pupils are among eight players who participated in the 2016 Durban U19 international soccer tournament who have been invited to overseas trials in Portugal and Scotland.
Dylan Stoffels from Durban High School who plays striker, Romario Morris, a striker from Umbilo Secondary School and Sibusiso Magaqa from Glenwood High School, who plays left winger, are joined by captain and central defender, Sanele Nene from Empangeni High School, Simo Mbhele, midfielder,Sphephelo Sithole, central midfielder from Umqhele Secondary School, Graeme Pratt, central defender from Crawford La Lucia, Zola Jinxi, midfielder from Crossmor Secondary School and Khanyisa Mayo from Holy Trinity High School, a striker who plays for the SA U19 national team.
England’s Arsenal FC were crowned the ultimate champions of the 3rd annual Durban U19 International Football Tournament after defeating the Nation’s SA U19 team 3-1 in the final at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi.
European club Sporting Lisbon FC successfully claimed third place in the tournament with a 5-1 victory over Congo DRC’s TP Mazembe who fought a good fight to not only get to the play-offs but also throughout the tournament.
Tournament organiser, Carlos Catalino, said The Durban Under 19 international tournament has grown in leaps and bounds since its inception three years ago.
He said the national teams have also shown improvement from the first year when they were knocked out in the group stages, in 2015 they made it to the semi-finals and this year sees them in the final, which would only mean great things for 2017.
The Durban U19 international football tournament is held in partnership between the South African Football Association, KwaZulu-Natal provincial government and eThekwini Municipality.
