Barcelona is calling
TWO 19-year old Motherwell youngsters took the first step towards a possible dream trip to Barcelona next month.
Necedo High School pupils Thulani Motloung and Nkosiyethu Ndzelani were selected at the Nike The Chance SA trials held at NMMU last month together with Warren Kops and Kieron Koert from the Northern Areas.
This week the four boys joined 48 boys from around the country at the Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto where they will be put through a world-class training programme by top coaches and experts in the game.
On Saturday and Sunday, Nike scouts will select three boys to attend the global finals in Barcelona. The three hopefuls will be given further training before competing against other finalists from 55 nations around the world for the grand prize – the chance to tour with the Nike Academy as an elite soccer team, and train at Nike clubs globally.
Thulani and Nkosiyethu are members of the highly successful school team that won several competitions including R500000 at the Sanlam Kay u-19 Schools Soccer Cup last year.
Thulani, who is a centreback, started playing soccer in the u-9 division of City Juventus and currently plays for Real Strikers in the Mofa Premier League. The Kaizer Chiefs fan dreams of playing for one of the teams in the Premier League one day and says World Footballer of the Year, Lionel Messi is his idol.
Nkosiyethu, a midfielder, plays for Castle League outfit, Real City. He also dreams of playing in the Premier Soccer League one day.
Both boys say they are grateful to their teacher and soccer coach, Siphiwo Mtshingila for giving them the opportunity.
Mtshingila in turn says Ncedo is lucky to have the support of their sports-loving principal and the soccer clubs in the community.
"The school does not have a soccer field and we depend on the clubs for their facilities,” he said.