Soccer association founder’s goal to put Queensbrugh on the PSL map
Josh Gounden is working towards his mission to found a football academy to nurture talented young footballers in the community he grew up in.
QUEENSBURGH footballer, Josh Gounden is determined to put the neighbourhood he grew up in onto the soccer map in South Africa.
Gounden, who is currently taking a short break from studying towards an associates degree at a United States college in Arkansas, has a dream to develop footballing talent, both his own, and by helping youngsters from the community he grew up in.
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“I founded Elite Athletes Association because I am passionate about soccer and have long dreamed of being a professional footballer,” he told the Queensburgh News.
Gounden has managed to keep up both individual and group training sessions “under strict Covid regulations” since the restrictions on such activities were lifted in the past month.
Gounden charges a small fee which is then channelled to supporting needy aspiring footballers. The holiday camps have fallen away due to the impact of Covid-19.
“Right now I am believing and trusting that local sponsors will come through with a sponsorship for new equipment, merchandise for the young athletes and hopefully eventually a permanent facility that will be used for local sports teams to level up in their sporting codes,” he explains.
Gounden said his ultimate goal is to establish a Football Academy in Queensburgh helping to hone the talent in the area and beyond. Part of his plan is to set up a full non-profit organisation (NPO) once he has finished his studies.
“Currently, we do not have NPO registration. Eventually I want to be able to go into rural areas and do talent identification for young athletes to join EAA,” said Gounden who admits the past few months have changed his priorities somewhat as he has seen how much need there is in the country, which might cause him to put his studies off a little while longer.
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“My goal and dream is to have a fully equipped indoor facility where my future soccer team will train and play matches and push for Elite Athletes to be a professional team giving young talent in Queensburgh a place to showcase themselves at a national level,” said Gounden who said he attributes his success in the past, and his confidence about his future to his faith in God.
To find out more about EAA and its founder visit its Facebook page and Instagram account, which both have the handle @EliteAthletesAssociation, visit the website eliteathletesassociation.co.za, or catch up with Gounden via WhatsApp on 061 459 5629.
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At the time of publication, the contents of this feature mirrored South Africa’s lockdown regulations.
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