DISCIPLINE, dedication and humility towards the sport. This is the advice of Bayview Sports Club chairman and coach, Mario Labuschagne which will see a player through to success as a soccer star. He joined the club about eight years ago as a soccer dad when his sons first played for the club.
“One of the coaches who was coaching the team at the time had to move overseas. Having played soccer in my younger years as well as being passionate about the sport, I saw it as an opportunity to fill the position and give back to my community of Wentworth. Looking back now I can see that it was one of my callings in life.
“Growing up I always wanted to pursue soccer as a professional career but unfortunately due to an injury I was not able to realise that dream. Coaching was the next best thing to pursuing my passion by developing the potential and nurturing the talent of aspiring players throughout Durban South,” said Mario who appreciated the other opportunities that coaching has exposed him to, including travelling beyond boarders and meeting like minded individuals.
The coach went as far as provincial level as an U17 in his younger years. He also played for Lamontville Golden Arrows. “One of my main highlights was playing for Inter United FC’s senior team as a junior, coached by Lewis Donnelly. That is where I was inspired as a young player and my talent was really nurtured. He saw talent in me and believed that I was capable of making it to a higher level. He is one of the people who really brought out the best in me. I don’t think I would have achieved all I have if it wasn’t for the role he played in my life. My dream was unfortunately cut short due to an injury. But coming alive on the field will always be a highlight for me.”
Today he does however play for the U35 Bayview team, which has won two previous leagues under the Durban Central Football Association. He shared that having two sons has also driven his passion to see the youth succeed even more.
“Helping children who come from disadvantaged communities and backgrounds is one of my biggest goals. To see one or two players make bigger teams or be exposed to more opportunities makes what I do all the more worthwhile. One of Bayview’s boys, Kyle Davies, has done very well for himself and was recently signed to Lamontville Golden Arrows. Such success stories give the younger boys so much hope, keeps them grounded and gives them motivation to keep going despite the odds.
Mario shared that what makes this sport more special in his community, is that it keeps the youth off the streets. “Coming from the community of Wentworth myself, which is riddled with gangsterism, drugs, violence and alcohol abuse, I know how easy it is for the youth to go down the wrong path. But I’ve always believed that it’s not about where you come from but where you’re headed. Given the right support we can remove that stigma from our community.
“Coaching comes with a lot of stress but it also comes with a lot of accolades and is ultimately rewarding. I’ve always coached from U6 upwards. Some players start out not even walking properly, nevertheless running properly. To see their growth after months of training and discipline in a player, really motivates as a coach to push harder at seeing them through to greatness,” he said.
He also advocates for parents to be more supportive of their children’s dreams. “I believe that if parents also come on board to be there for the children by taking them to the practice sessions, attending matches and being involved, these players could really go a long way. There are children who have exceptional talent but it needs to be nurtured at home and on the field.”
Challenges he has faced both as a chairman and a coach is the lease agreement on the grounds. “As coaches we’re only allowed to lease the grounds on a six month basis. You’ll train the young players over a period of six months and then you’re stuck when the lease has expired. Some players stop training or lose interest as a result. Any club that needs to sustain itself cannot have the grounds for just half the year,” said Mario who hopes to get assistance from the department of parks to motivate for a longer lease. The unforeseen Covid-19 storm also brought an abrupt halt on the soccer season and all planned tournaments for the year.
“Lockdown came a week before the start of our season. It was especially disappointing as I was selected as one of the coaches to coach one of the junior divisions at a tournament in Swaziland. This was going to be a big opportunity for the participating youth to expose them to other players. The cancellation of this event and others came as quite a disappointment. We fall under the South African Football Association (SAFA) banner, therefore we have to abide by their rules and regulations. This is why the return to soccer is yet to be confirmed under the new normal, while prioritising the health of players, coaches and their families.”
“My vision is to work with the community to take this club to higher heights. Bayview Sports Club is for the community and I hope we can get it back to being a family orientated club, which will hopefully become professional one day.”
The club is a non-profit sports organisation which appeals to local businesses and the greater public for sponsors in shaping aspiring youth into talented soccer players. For more information contact Mario on 078-516-9554.
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