The Siyadlala Football Academy, which has found another home ground at Numbi Primary School in Hazyview, is set for greater achievements, such as establishing a clubhouse in Graskop that will cater to all the needs of its young players.
The academy boasts players from all around Mpumalanga, some from KwaZulu-Natal and even eSwatini, and two more home grounds, one at Bushbuckridge Private School and the other at Metropolitan College in White River.
One of the coaches, Lwazi Mhlongo, said the clubhouse is anticipated to be be operational from 2025, which will be advantageous for all its players for in-depth support and development. The team is currently competing in the Forek U17 Development League in the Mbelanko stream.
Mhlongo said it is Siyadlala’s first time participating in this league and he hopes to make greater improvement in the development of the players as well as the coaches.
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“The performance in the league has been improving from each week since we joined. This is a platform that the boys need to showcase themselves to gain opportunities for a future in football. Definitely, by the end of the season, they would have made even better improvements in their skills and personal growth,” he said.
The team is currently sitting at number nine on the log table with 13 points. They have played 13 games, won three, lost six and drew four.
The league’s matches played at the Valencia Sports Park on July 13 saw the boys in black clash with Barberton Academy to a 1-2 loss.
“We have star players on the team who are younger than 17 and show great potential in becoming professional footballers in the future. We believe in moulding players from a young age so that they are exposed to the conditions of professional football tactics sooner. The team has great and experienced coaches such as myself, Mpho Malope and Surprise Khoza,” Mhlongo said.
Siyadlala was established in 2011 by Bongani Shabalala, and Mhlongo has been one of its first players. Mhlongo said they go beyond football skills development to also instil good values and morals in the youngsters.
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“We always encourage the children to work hard in their academics, because it is as important as their love of soccer. Moreover, we give them a second home where they can be free to seek support from us about any challenges they come across in their lives. It is a safe platform where they are not as exposed to social ills and peer pressure as they would be when they spend time gallivanting on the streets,” he said.
