Young soccer manager urges young people to stay away from alcohol and drugs
"My plea to them is to stay away from these bad habits and focus on sports because that's where their future is...'
Yohanna Mathebula (20) a young soccer scout who hails from Xikukwani village outside Giyani has urged young people to stay out of substance abuse and to focus on sports.
“Today many young people are abusing alcohol and drugs. They no longer focus on sports, so my plea to them is to stay away from these bad habits and focus on sports because that’s where their future is,” said Mathebula.
He started realising the calling of being a soccer manager at the age of 12. “I was doing grade 7 when I started to have the love for soccer and I would buy expensive soccer jerseys and people would start to wonder why I buy such expensive jerseys, but little did I know that it was my calling,” he added.
In 2014 when he was doing grade 10, he started a sports agency (Sundani Sports Agency) where he managed to take three of his school mates, Innocent Sambo, Irvin Chabalala and Lyden Mathevula to trial at Benny’s Care Sports Academy. The trio managed to pass the trial and represented the country at Danone under 12 cup in France.
In 2015 Mathevula managed to get a contract for a Botswana soccer player to come play for Bilika All Stars in Giyani.
The following year he arranged trials for a few players. He is currently in grade 12 at Mhangazi high school in Xikukwani village. One of his client, Innocent Sambo described him as hardworking and humble young person who always make them feel valuable. “Yohanna is a very good manager who is always there for us and gives us support,” he said.
The players managed by Mathebula are Tshepo Mabasa who plays for Stellenbosch F.C (National First Division), Wiseman Shabangu, BV Winners park (ABC Motsepe soccer league), Sithembiso Miya, BV Winners park (ABC Motsepe soccer league), Nhlanhla Makhubele, Baroka United (Absa Premier Soccer League), Lungelo Bhengu, Kaizer Chiefs (Reserve), Muxe Mchavi, Wilson Express, (ABC Motsepe league) and Lyden Mathevula who plays for Wilson Express (ABC Motsepe league).
