ETS host Dubai-based academy looking for fresh talent in South Africa

The road to stardom is paved with the pressure and heartache of life changing opportunities.

Education Through Soccer (ETS) was the venue for a pulsating week of dream-inducing possibilities. From December 5 to 8, The Football Academy Elite Performance Centre (TFA EPC) held open trials with the aim of giving one player a shot at an international playing contract. TFA EPC is a newly founded club playing in the United Arab Emirates’ third tier and is establishing a global scouting network.

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Earning a spot on the team sheet of a European club comes with many selection criteria obstacles but the Emiratis have opened their footballing borders to allow their teams to build a future-focused cosmopolitan hub of excellence. With TFA EPC founder, Ali El Jishsi and his Head of Academy, Fouad Hafid, watching keenly from the sidelines, the four-day trial saw 250 young men between the age of 17 an 23 put their best boots forward in the hope of catching the eye of the coaching staff.

Throughout the trials, El Jishi, drummed into the players the need to be a complete player in order to earn a professional contract. He stressed the need to meet the psychological, physical fitness, tactical and technical requirements of the beautiful game.

“Some players have a natural ability because they have played all their lives but they need nutrition, a gym, tactical awareness and everything that goes on behind the scenes. We can give them that,” said El Jishi.

TFA EPC consider their efforts in South Africa as a way to maximise a return on their investment.

“We know there is talent here. We know South Africa has always produced Premier League players. I have been telling them all week that they need to tick so many boxes though to earn a professional contract,” said El Jishi. For those who don’t meet TFA EPC’s 360 degree requirements, he encouraged players keep pushing themselves to develop the other areas of their game.

Marketing and events guru, Taren Welthagen, was approached by TFA EPC to launch their footprint in the country. “For me it is really important that kids in our country are given opportunities and I think we lack opportunities like this in our country. I’d like to see more development around skill and importantly, I’d like to see it become more than just trials,” said Taren, outlining her desire to see a formal development structure create consistent pathways.

The climax of the week was the answering of the prayers of the standout players. A maximum of three players would be considered, with two chosen on the final day and one other player placed on a lonely standby list. After praising ETS for their hospitality and superb venue, El Jishi and Hafid announced that Pretoria’s Ethan Mokwena and the East Rand’s Jerimiah Tefu were they two lucky boys who would be taking a step closer to their dream.

“It has been a great experience. We were happy to see the desire and intensity of all the players we have met here. For us coaches, it is very important for us to look at character and attitude and we could see that all the boys were disciplined. As we explained, we came to scout, not to coach them. We came to find players that meet our requirements and expectations. Just because they were not selected, does not mean they must stop pursing their dreams,” said Hafid, the Head of Academy.

TFA EPC will return to South Africa in March offering another stepping stone to football’s promised land.