NOT so long ago, he was part of the 100 aspiring soccer stars from across Durban who took part in the Chelsea Football Club Shield Sbonis‘iDiski soccer challenge at UKZN Howard College soccer grounds. After a week-long training session with the Chelsea Football Club coaches, Shield selected the winners from a field of 26 soccer players. Durbanite Quade Roskruge was announced as the winner of the competition and will take the trip of a lifetime to England for a training experience with Chelesea.
Garth Marshall, Senior Brand Manager for Shield South Africa said the company was honored to offer the experience to the talented group of players. “Our hope and aim is to provide a platform where they can showcase their skills and passion for the game. We hope that this has further challenged them as skilled football players and will help them see some of their goals and dreams become a reality,” he said.
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Roskruge, will be joined by the two runners-up, both from Cape Town, Joshua Roman and Alanzo Khun. The three will travel to the Cobham Training Centre in Chelsea, London to train with the Chelsea coaching staff and players, while also watching a match and meeting the Chelsea Football Club team.
“As part of the partnership, Shield was offering one football player from South Africa a chance to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to spend a day training with the Blues coaches at their training base in Cobham. However, the pool of talent was so strong that we found it difficult to select just one winner. It is for this reason we have selected three of the strongest players to go to Chelsea. Roskruge, Khun and Roman stood out for their determination, hard work and continued practice on and off the field,” said Steve Winnett, International Football Development Officer for the Chelsea Football Club.
Former Bafana Bafana defender and football analyst Siphiwe Mkhonza, who led the nationwide trials and scouts to find players who have dedicated their lives to the game said the players had demonstrated technical skill, speed and agility, controlled footwork, strong defence skills and overall dedication to the game. “They lived up to the challenge, demonstrating their passion and commitment to the game as they all fought to secure their spot in the finals,” he said.
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