18-year-old Melusi Hlongwane has one goal in mind – to become the next Harry Kane of football.
“Kane captains the England national team. At first, my people questioned why I chose him as my role model but people are realising how exceptional he really is. I am where I am today in terms of football because of him (Kane). I know he does not know me or the impact he has had on my life, but it’s only a matter of time before he will know my name,” Melusi said proudly.
The teen is an aspiring footballer who has already accomplished great achievements over the past year.
His goal is to head overseas to focus on achieving his dream of playing for Tottenham Hotspur and to become a household name among avid football fans.
“I am an individual who is truly passionate about football and becoming a professional footballer. I would say that my life revolves around football. My hobbies are all related to football, which are watching football matches, analysis, and podcasts.
“During my spare time, I love engaging myself in individual training sessions to enhance my skills. I also love reading articles about footballers and anything about football.”
- Who is Melusi Hlongwane?
Melusi was born in Newcastle on August 7, 2005.
He grew up in Newcastle where he started schooling at Busy Bee Primary School and is currently doing his matric year at Newcastle High School.
“I was born into a family of five with married parents. I am the middle child between my two brothers. My parents are a bit old-school, as they believe that school is ‘the only key to success’. However, I can’t shy away from the fact that they have been supportive in any way that they can. They have sacrificed a lot to ensure that my brother and I are exposed to a variety of opportunities and resources. My brother also believes in my vision and dream of becoming a professional football player.”
- A passion for football:
“My passion for football started on March 5, 2016, and I still remember it as if it were yesterday. It was a North London Derby when my role model, Harry Kane, scored a beauty of a goal. I remember saying to myself, ‘I want to be like that guy’. He was playing for Tottenham Hotspur at the time, and I started loving and supporting Spurs. Upon realising my passion, I noticed that when I’m on the field of play, nothing else matters. I feel like a different person and wholesome at the same time. I also realised where my happiness is; the football field.”
- Past season achievements:
- I played for Newcastle High School’s under 19s where I am the first-team captain. I played 26 matches, scored 11 goals, and provided 10 assists.
- I ended the season with 21 goal contributions in 26 matches.I also play for a team called Malls FC. We play open division (no age restrictions). With Malls FC, I have played 10 games, scored 14 goals, and provided 3 assists.
- All in all, I played 36 matches, scored 25 goals, and provided 13 assists which translates into 38 goal contributions in 36 games.
- Aspirations, dreams and future goals:
In the upcoming years, Melusi sees himself competing at the highest level for major silverware like the UEFA Champions League.
“In my opinion, our domestic league is not as competitive as what I would like to play in. This is why I seek to go overseas to pursue my dream. Another thing with playing football overseas is that there is less favouritism and nepotism,” he explained.
He further alluded to the fact that the teams in Europe were willing to invest in young players and had enough resources and facilities to nurture young talent.
“My dream is to play for my club, Tottenham Hotspur, and hopefully one day play alongside my role model, Harry Kane.”
Melusi is planning on heading off to London in the hope of attracting interest from Spurs. According to him, huge clubs in England do not host open trails, so he has compiled a CV with all his personal records, experiences, stats, videos of him playing, achievements, and awards.
So when he gets there, he can immediately start presenting his portfolio to the various clubs.
- Readers can help Melusi achieve his dream
However, to achieve his dreams, Melusi is now turning to his community for help in getting to England.
In total, he will need around R20 000- according to the research he has done.
R2000 will go towards all the documentation required, such as his passport and visa.
“A plane ticket will cost approximately R11 000, and the rest will go towards a place to stay, which is around R2000 per month.
“I have tried going to businesses for assistance, but I have had no luck. I really have nothing, as my parents are not working, and for me, football is the only hope to take my family out of poverty. I was on the verge of throwing in the towel until I learned about crowd-funding.”
With this in mind, Melusi has created a Back-a-Buddy account to see if he could find the help he needs to ensure he can make his dreams a reality.
“I was watching the news on SABC 1, and there was a guest who came to speak about crowd-funding. I believe that it came at the right moment because I tried writing emails to businesses, but unfortunately, I got no response. After hearing that interview, I researched various crowd-funding campaigns until I came across Back-a-Buddy. Another reason is that I really want to go overseas, so I won’t stop at anything until I’ve made it.”
If you would like to assist him, you can do so by donating towards the account by visiting https://www.backabuddy.co.za/melusi-hlongwane-5752524856323553569 or, ultimately, by contacting him on 071 534 1719 for more information.
“I would need the funds by December 6 and it would really mean a lot to me if you were to help me. The kindness you put out always has a way of coming back,” he concluded.
The news provided to you in this link has been investigated and compiled by the editorial staff of the Newcastle Advertiser, a sold newspaper distributed in the Newcastle area. Please follow us on Youtube and feel free to like, comment, and subscribe. For more local news, visit our webpage, follow us on Facebook and Twitter, and request an add on our WhatsApp (082 874 5550).
