Soccer talent unearthed in Nedbank Ke Yona trials
Nedbank's goal of nurturing football from grassroots level is exceeding all expectations.
Absa Premiership Young Player of the Season, Maphosa Modiba, at the 2015/16 PSL Awards.
LIMPOPO – Since the campaign’s commencement in 2011, 10 players have since signed contracts with Premier Soccer League (PSL) and National First Division (NFD) teams to realise their football dreams and contribute immensely to their team’s success.
One player who has truly demonstrated Nedbank’s ability to turn lives around is Limpopo-born midfielder, Maphosa Modiba.
The current PSL Young Player of The Season was among the 23-man squad that took part in the 2016 Rio Olympics. This is a dream come true as the youngster has dreamed of wearing the green and gold jersey since his early days playing for Hungry Lions.
He took a chance and participated in the Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search trials and was selected alongside a team that faced Orlando Pirates in 2014. He was later discovered by Mpumalanga Black Aces and now wears jersey number 29 with pride.
Modiba has also played for the South African National u/20 football team, known as Amajita. He believes life is about taking chances and having faith.
Modiba is a 2015 graduate of the Ke Yona Team Search which produced the likes of Luthando Sixhaso, who currently plays for former Nedbank Cup champions, Kaizer Chiefs.
Even though the u/23 national team was knocked out of the Olympics, Modiba believes the experience gained from such a momentous tournament will take him even further.
“I enjoy a successful football career because I have been through the hands of the best coaches in this country. Through the Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search, I had the unique opportunity of being trained by Owen Da Gama and Shakes Mashaba.
“I worked with one of the best tacticians, Muhsin Ertugral, who has moulded me to be the player I am today. All of this would not have happened had I not participated in the Nedbank Cup to make my football dreams come true,” he said.
Modiba will be in action when the Nedbank Ke Yona Challenge takes place at the Sinaba Stadium in Daveyton where Chiefs will lock horns with reigning champions, SuperSport United, on 4 September.
