Golden Knights Soccer Academy in Midrand aims high

Golden Knights Soccer Academy has taken the Midrand community by storm and aims to empower and help the youth to become international football stars.

Established last year, the academy already has U9 to U13 teams registered with the South African Football Association under the North Rand Football Association.

It caters for youngsters around Midrand and children from underprivileged backgrounds from townships such as Ebony Park and Olivenhoutbosch through its outreach programme.

The academy hosts various soccer tournaments and league matches on weekends. Currently, the academy has 58 members and has adopted 11 children through its outreach programme and is looking for sponsorship to assist with kits, transport and academic needs.

“We appeal to business people and the community at large to sponsor these children who cannot afford to buy their own kit or pay for their transport and food,” said coach and founder of the academy, Katleho Ntsethe

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“We do not only want to see them succeed in soccer, but we would like to also see them enrolled in the schools around town so they could also improve academically.”

Ntsethe said their aim was to see their members doing well academically and exporting some of their players to play for junior teams abroad.

The academy is planning to host a fundraiser at Midrand High School during the Easter weekend where local businesses would be invited to run stalls and use the profits to donate to the academy.

“The funds raised would be used to buy the youngsters tracksuits among other things since winter is approaching. We also want parents to encourage their kids to dream big and believe in their dreams,” he concluded.

Edited by Stacey Woensdregt

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