Sophia youngsters are giving their youthful academy more than football with education lessons forming a crucial part of the club.
Sophia youngsters are giving their youthful academy more than football with education lessons forming a crucial part of the club.
At the end-of-year event at Ntsika Secondary School on Saturday 29 November, the academy’s under 13 and 15 players were awarded with certificates of excellent performance for the season. Both teams finish in fourth place on the Makana Local Football Association's junior logs.
Club founder Lindisipho Swaartbooi says it is important for his players to be awarded for their performance during the year and hopes that will motivate them further when the new season commences in 2015.
The youth academy has decided to do more than just provide football skills to the Joza pupils, as they balance soccer with education. “These pupils are very special to me, it is important to show that we value their presence in the team, said Swaartbooi.
“This club is more than just a soccer club, we have created an environment for them where they can also study. We have educational programmes that we provide to them which have to go hand in hand with playing soccer,” said Swaartbooi.
Ntsika principal Madeleine Schoeman urged the young football stars to value the opportunities given to them but not forget that education comes before everything else in life.
At the award ceremony Schoeman gave the pupils valuable life lessons. The event was also attended by Ward 11 Councillor Mncedisi Gojela and a representative of the Makana Department of Sport, Nobuntu Gantana who heads the Special Programmes Unit.
Swaartbooi said the parents have played a huge role in supporting them in their quest to help nurture the pupils. He recognised the involvement of Rhodes University in their teams' more than average performances in recent seasons. Swaartbooi said Rhodes have helped in many aspects in developing local football in the townships.
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