Bafana wants to inspire Standerton youth through soccer
The Standerton soccer star said the annual tournament will fall under the Tshabalala Foundation, where U12s and U17s would compete at the Sakhile Stadium.
Midfield maestro Bafana Tshabalala is appealing to local business people to sponsor an annual soccer tournament in Sakhile.
Tshabalala is no stranger to the beautiful game as he had plied his trade for PSL outfits such as Dynamos and Platinum Stars.
The Standerton soccer star said the annual tournament will fall under the Tshabalala Foundation, where U12s and U17s would compete at the Sakhile Stadium.
The creme de la creme of soccer, such as former Kaizer Chiefs players Jabu Mahlangu and Junior Khanye, will attend the tournament.
“The reason we are looking for sponsors is because the payers must be incentivised as well as our guest soccer stars,” said Tshabalala.
He added that this tournament would be the first of its kind in Standerton, and he expects it to grow year after year.
“The main purpose of this tournament is to target kids from an early age. We will provide training for them and clinics,” he added.
Tshabalala said the challenges in organising such a tournament are funding and sponsors.
“We have a boy who is supposed to train with Mamelodi Sundowns. However, there are issues with transport for him to go to training and coming back,” Tshabalala added.
He said the primary goal of the foundation is to keep growing and help boys from the community so they do not fall victim to drugs and crime. The 34-year-old midfielder said he does not want his foundation to focus on soccer alone.
“We want to uplift this community. If there is a funeral, our foundation must lend a helping hand, and we also want to have bursaries for learners who cannot afford to further their studies.”
Tshabalala said he has no plans to hang up his soccer boots any time because soccer is his passion.
