Scouts spoilt for choice for Metro team
Talent on display bodes well for the country’s future
SAFA-BCM scouts had a tough time trying to select the best players during the Buffalo City Inter-Local Football Association tournament held at Zwelitsha Stadium over the weekend.
More than 400 players were showcasing their talents in an effort to be selected to represent the metro in the Mayoral Cup that will be held on June 16 and in the Steve Vukile Tshwete Games set to take place later this year.
Five out of the six Safa-BCM Local Football Associations participated in the games which started on Saturday and concluded on Sunday evening.
Victoria Mxenge, East London West, Mdalfa, Qonce, Gompo, all played their strongest players, while the sixth LFA, Bunkers West was not ready to take part and pulled out at the last minute.
Safa-BCM junior squads selector Themba Simanga said all the games were closely contested, which validates the high level of talent the metro has.
“Talent is there and competition was tight, which means we are getting the best products.
“And I think this tournament was needed by the LFAs because it exposes talent,” said Simanga.
He said with the players they have selected he was confident they would display better football in both upcoming tournaments.
“For the first time in the last three years we’ve only lost one game, against Nelson Mandela Metro in the SVT games.
“PE has always gave us tough competition in the SVT games, and who ever wins between us always wins the tournament.
“And I think from the squad that we have selected for finals we’ll get top players,” he said.
Simanga emphasised the importance of such tournaments, and said they helped root out true talent.
“We had a boy, Bhongo ‘Lucio’ Inathi, who played here in this tournament. Now he’s playing for development side at SuperSport.
“Even the previous year we had Mihlali Damesi, who’s playing for the U17 national team that went to Lesotho last year.
“So we have a lot of talent here in the grassroot levels and I can’t wait to see what they will do in these tournaments.”
Safa-BCM secretary Mnyamezeli Bomeni said the divisions which participated included U11, U13, U15 and U17, and he was overwhelmed by the football displayed by the young lads.
“I must say, if you weren’t here you missed out on U11 fixtures. There’s real talent there, and we as Safa-BCM intend to keep a database.
“Because these players get lost along the way, so that even next year when there’s a boy who played in U11 this year, we see him in U13.
“And I think that’s how we’ll manage our development, because remember, our programmes as Safa are solely based on development.”
Bomeni thanked BCM for contributing to their programme which was to push the LFA into the rural areas.
“We have noted that there are teams in rural areas that still play Amacalegusha.
“So all the LFAs present here have a responsibility to go out there and recruit those structures.
“And the tournament was well attended, and I think the LFA’s brought their best teams because it was not obvious which team would win.
“Even those players that were not selected are not bad players. It’s just that there are not enough spots in the teams that we need to have.”
Bomeni said he met with the Bunkers West executive after they pulled out, and they were able to reach an understanding.
“Going forward they must participate, because it’s allowed by Safa that structures don’t take part in our programmes.”
On Saturday the association will host the finals of the tournament at Orlando Stadium, which will be played by number one and number two of each division.
“We are still in negotiations with the municipality about using Sisa Dukashe Stadium, because we also want to expose the talent in ladies football.
“We’ll have ladies also playing and our scout will be selecting two teams also that will play in the Mayoral Cup as well as in the Steve Vukile Tshwete games.”