Amanzimtoti soccer star keen to score more
The teen is a true leader himself and has captained his team since joining the Toti club.
Toti United sportsman of the year last season, Lwandile Nzama, 15, is chomping at the bit to run out on the soccer field this year. His U16 team was fortunate to play one friendly in preparation for the upcoming season, before the rest of the matches were cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak. The 2020 season, which should have been currently underway, has been postponed.
“We will definitely do well if we get to play this season, if you look at our performance last season and commitment on the few training sessions and the friendly we had.”
Lwandile, who is a Grade 9 learner at Orient Primary School in Isipingo, plays right back and still scored six goals last season. He helped his U15 team being named club team of the year. “I was so proud and excited. I think our commitment to training made us strong. Our coach, Berkeley Pretorius also helped make us such a strong team. he is such a wonderful coach to work with, an easy-going person, friendly and a true leader. He has been my coach ever since I started playing for Toti United three years ago and he is coaching us again this season.”
Of the 22 matches his team played last season (they play each team twice), they won 19, drew one and only lost two.
“Newtown Football Club was our toughest opponents last season – both games we lost were against them. We do have a plan to beat them this season, because we realised that in both games we lost, the goals were scored towards the end of the game and at that time our players were completely tired. That’s where we, together with our coach, picked up our weaknesses and our coach emphasised the importance of working harder on our physical training to get more fit.”
READ ALSO: Amanzimtoti rugby coach longs for start of 2020 season
Lwandile was born in Durban and started playing soccer in 2015. “I got the passion for the sport from my father. I enjoy it when I help save my team from being defeated.”
The teen is a true leader himself and has captained his team since joining the Toti club. He has also been fortunate to have played with most of his teammates each season, another reason that they have gelled so well together. he also plays for his school team, but admitted their season last year was not as rewarding as the club’s.
“I am worried that the lockdown for the coronavirus will affect this season. I have been keeping busy at home during lockdown with indoor training to keep up my fitness levels and playing soccer on my X-box. I am an athlete, specialising in the 800m run, so I do keep fit all year round. I also do modelling, but soccer is my passion. I would love to become an international player, like my idol Eden Hazard, who plays for Real Madrid, one day and represent my country.”
READ ALSO: Amanzimtoti brothers smash cricket for a six
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