Two Limpopo Stars dream of training
The Shield Sbonis'iDiski football programme brought their budding clinic to the province for the first time this year.
LIMPOPO – The programme, geared at grassroots football development to train and develop football players, is wrapping up for 2019 and two Limpopo players made the top 25 who will train at the high performance centre in Pretoria.
Karabo Mafa and Andy Mehlape will join 23 other players from around the country for a three-day camp where the top three will be announced. The top three will receive a once in a lifetime opportunity to train with Chelsea Football Club (FC). One of the three winners will also be afforded a contract with Orlando Pirates FC’s Multichoice Diski Challenge team.
Andy Mehlape from Segopje Ga-Mamabolo and a student at Rosebank College, says that the trials were challenging but he believes that it was his time to shine. He added that he worked hard and that he will work even harder at the final selection in Pretoria.
“Making the top 25 means a lot, but I am not completely satisfied. I want to be one of the three that goes to England to train with Chelsea, but what I really want is to get the contract with Orlando Pirates,” he added.
Karabo Mafa, from Unit F in Mankweng, says football is the only thing keeping him busy at the moment and when he received the call from Shield Sbonis’iDiski, he was very happy. He explained that he is grateful to Shield and Orlando Pirates for the opportunity and he believes that soccer will open a lot of doors for him.
“My main desire is to play international football and I believe this opportunity will open those doors for me. I practise all the time to be at a level where I can play for an international team,” he explained.
They both agreed that they have learnt a lot from their journey and they are excited to keep learning.
