Levi has high goals

Levi Ragovan may only be nine years old but he already has dreams of being the best football player in the world.

It is not an unrealistic dream for such a young boy as he is already making a name for himself in Germany.

Ragovan lives in Featherbrooke and is a Grade 3 pupil at Deutsche Internationale Schule Johannesburg where he plays football. Ragovan developed a love for the game three years ago, and shortly afterwards, his parents arranged for him to train under sports conditioner, Rafique Hassim.

Hassim recognised Ragovan’s potential and developed his skill and technique. Together with Ragovan’s parents, Hassim organised to send Ragovan to the Deutsche Fussball Internat, a football college in Bad Aibling, Germany, in June this year.

The college provides superior training to young players from all over the world, while also furthering their academics.

“I learned a lot there,” said the young central midfielder. “They play differently from us in South Africa. [In Germany] they have more teamwork and use different combinations between players.” The college admired Ragovan’s abilities and invited him to attend again next year, which he plans to. The college also gave him a player’s pass to play at any club in Bavaria.

“My dream is to be the best and to play for my country,” he said. He does not have a favourite football team, but his favourite player to watch is James Rodríguez, a Colombian attacking midfielder who scored the most goals at the 2014 Fifa World Cup.

Hassim said although it was very early to say it, Ragovan shows great potential. “What he must do is keep the fire burning, keep his own dream alive and he will go very far,” Hassim said.

According to Ragovan, when he started playing football he made the mistake of thinking he was already the best player in town. “But I learned I need to work hard and be humble,” he said.