×

We've got news for you.

Register on SowetanLIVE at no cost to receive newsletters, read exclusive articles & more.
Register now

'Please, God, let me go through all the way'

GLORY ROAD: Young Mogorosi Mmethi who was selected as an outstanding player at the Shona Khona regional camp is pictured with Gideon Noge, left, and Simon Mahlangu. 04/05/08. © Sowetan.
GLORY ROAD: Young Mogorosi Mmethi who was selected as an outstanding player at the Shona Khona regional camp is pictured with Gideon Noge, left, and Simon Mahlangu. 04/05/08. © Sowetan.

Thandukwazi Gcabashe

Thandukwazi Gcabashe

Aspirant soccer superstar Mogorosi Mmethi hopes to continue with his winning ways in the yearly Shona Khona education through sport campaign.

Shona Khona's sponsoring, organising, transportation and media and publicity partners include Reckitt Benckiser, Metro Cash & Carry, Premier Soccer League side Mamelodi Sundowns, AIG Manchester United, sports management agency, ForwardZone and Sowetan, who have made the campaign one of the Aggrey Klaaste Nation Building Foundation's youth development activities.

Mmethi, who is a tender 13, was selected as the most outstanding budding player in North West at one of several Shona Khona regional soccer coaching and life skills training camps.

He is among 22 lucky recruits who are due to attend an advanced soccer coaching and life skills training camp in Gauteng in July.

Mmethi's fellow aspirants, who have qualified for the July camp, due to be conducted by coaches from the Manchester United Soccer Schools programme and the Mamelodi Sundowns technical team, are:

lGauteng's Ellias Moabi, Pakiso Motshabaesi, Mosala Mamasedi and Mohau Matikane;

lNorth West's Banele Khoza;

lLimpopo's Koketso Mphela;

lKwaZulu-Natal's Zazi Zuma, Siyabonga Vilakazi and Kwanda Ndwandwe;

lNorthern Cape's Lyle Johnson, Bongani Masilela and Thabang Magatla;

lFree State's Iyanda Mabani, Sipho Plaatje and Tebogo Mohale;

lMpumalanga's Maake Ndzalama;

lEastern Cape's Andile Jiyane, Ndamane Zuko and Vuyolwethu Klaas;

lAnd Western Cape's Sonwabiso Veiver and Mpumelelo Sefalane.

Mmethi, who is the captain of Western Tigers Development football club's junior team, is still excited after he was selected and even cited as the best candidate during the North West leg of the Shona Khona.

"I was very happy and pray to God to help me go through to the final camp," Mmethi.

To qualify for the coaching and selection camps, youngsters aged between 10 and 16 enter by buying products manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser from any Metro Cash & Carry and Trade Centre stores.

They must SMS the number found on these products and the youngsters whose numbers are drawn are allocated to a training camp closest to their cities or towns.

In the past two years, Shona Khona has taken 24 talented youngsters to the Sao Paulo Futebol Academy in Brazil for a week of training.

Tyroane Sandows has been offered a three-year contract by the Sao Paulo Futebol Club.

At the end of the three years Sandows could be reassessed and, if he qualifies, he could join the Sao Paulo FC academy's senior section .

Five other boys were accepted and are currently enrolled at the Safa Transnet Sports of Excellence through Shona Khona.

Sifiso Mnguni who was discovered at the very first Shona Khona training camp signed a three-year professional playing contract with Platinum Stars development team in November last year.

l For more information call the Shona Khona hotline on 0861 100 980.

Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.

Speech Bubbles

Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.