Young player puts in hard work on and off the field
Banele Africa gained interest in soccer from a very young age and he still has that hunger for it to this day
Young Banele Africa has a huge passion for playing soccer at a higher level. The velocity midfielder is also trying his best to balance demanding school work and his dreams of one day playing pro.
He writes:
It’s very difficult for me to balance my school work with my football life because of how far my school is from home. I get home very tired, but I try to stay disciplined because I need school and want soccer in my life.
After training, I usually get home late and have to take a bath to refresh myself and have enough energy to do my homework. It usually takes me two hours to complete. After completing I reward myself with food for completing everything in my day.
Looking at South Africa in general and its youth, there are a lot of distractions. Peer pressure is very much real – especially in this day where not going to parties, drinking alcohol and smoking is considered boring and the only way to have fun. Soccer keeps me off the streets of our messed-up society. Most of all I want to make it as a professional so distraction could set me back.
South Africa has very talented people when it comes to soccer. The main problem is that we South Africans don’t want it hard enough – whereas if we did, our soccer could really excel and we could find ourselves playing in the World Cup every year it is hosted.
I’m privileged enough to have parents that support my interests and actually see that I’m a talented footballer. It’s the little things like that that help keep me going as my parents also push me to go to training and ensure that I actually do.
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