Soccer legend Ishmael "Litre" Mokitlane has called on former professional players to help in the development of the game as a legacy project of the 2010 World Cup.

Soccer legend Ishmael "Litre" Mokitlane has called on former professional players to help in the development of the game as a legacy project of the 2010 World Cup.

Mokitlane, a Safa Level One- accredited coach, said ex-professionals should adopt primary, higher primary and high schools in their areas.

"We have so many ex-professionals who are not working but can play a tremendous role in the development of the game in South Africa," he said.

"The majority of youngsters of today are still lacking on simple basics of soccer and that's where we [former professionals] must come on board.

"We must approach the schools in the areas where we live and asked the headmasters or school governing bodies to [let us] coach their soccer teams. In that way we will ensure that our youngsters know the basics when they get opportunities to play in competitive leagues and junior national teams.

"Our children need specialist coaching, we have to get soccer greats like defenders, midfielders and strikers to come back into the game and help the youngsters.

"Currently, the goalkeeping department is the one getting specialised training at club level and national teams."

Mokitlane is one of the Free State World Cup ambassadors along with Troy Saila, Benjamin Reed, Pele Pelesa and Petros "Whitehead" Molemela.

A former Bloemfontein Celtic star, Mokitlane also runs a soccer academy in Batho Location in Mangaung with Reed and Phera Rankahlane.