Caden off to Portugal
West Rand Ballers Academy produces another potential professional footballer for the future.
Caden de Koker will be representing the West Rand and Krugersdorp in April 2025 at the famed Portuguese football club CD Nacional, otherwise known as Clube Desportivo Nacional, and sometimes Nacional da Madeira which is based in Funchal, on the island of Madeira.
De Koker joins a handful several talented players from the academy who have shown talent, resilience and hard work as he joins talented players, such as Sphiwe Mabaso, who was selected to go for trials last year in Portugal as well.
Sphiwe plays wing for the U18 team at the West Rand Ballers Academy and was among the boys who were shining for their club at the Euro Soccer Schools tournament held in Bloemfontein last year. De Koker plays for the academy’s U14 team as a central midfielder and sometimes as an attacking winger.
He started playing football at just the tender age of four and joined the academy in 2017, despite playing football he has tried his hand at other sports such as rugby, however, the football pitch is where he shines the most. He refers to the sport, like most people, as a beautiful game as he looks up to his idols who he has admired and hopes to reach the same level as them.
“My idols are Cristiano Ronaldo and Ronaldinho, they both have a similar style of play and overcame hardships to be the players they are and that inspires me.”
His long-term goals is to secure a spot in playing for an academy overseas and someday turn professional.
