Ace to keep soccer alive in Rand West City
'It's a new year, which means we have an opportunity to start anew. It should not be done only for soccer, but for other sporting codes as well.' – Local soccer coach and former professional footballer
Former professional footballer Bongani Ace Duiker, founder and head coach of the Super Tigers Football Club, aims to rebuild the spirit of soccer in Rand West City. But he hopes to get the support he needs.
While he is committed to discovering raw talent in the sport, he said government should also do its part by maintaining sports facilities.
Ace said after the impact of Covid-19 had disrupted team sports by limiting activities, with many team members going their separate ways, he hoped that 2022 would see none of the interruptions they had experienced in the last two years.
“This will also depend on whether we get our fields in order, and whether we commit ourselves. We do need to commit because this is the only way to keep soccer alive. If we give up, we will not only be failing youngsters with potential, but we’ll be killing their future as well,” Ace said.
He added that people and parents should not stop taking their kids to soccer practice in the afternoons and on weekends, because that’s they only way they’re giving support, and it should never stop.
“It’s a new year, which means we have an opportunity to start anew. It should not be done only for soccer, but for other sporting codes as well.”
He also urged the Rand West City Local Municipality to come on board and improve the state of the facilities, which he said weren’t good.
“We’re not asking much, because we don’t ever want to get to a point where sport enthusiasts are discouraged to do what they love simply because our facilities aren’t well maintained. This is for the benefit of everyone – not only the future stars, but the whole community, and we should always remember that,” Ace said.
