Chance to take mom from shack
Teto, 15, sees dream coming true as he scores big break
Taking his unemployed mother out of her shack has been the driving force for Aphelele Teto from Scenery Park, who’s leaving the Carlos Soccer Youth Development Academy (CSYDA) for Bidvest Wits’ development side.
Teto, 15, is the fourth player to come out of the CSYDA to realise his dreams of playing for a professional team. The academy has produced the likes of Damien Lewis from Breidbach, who went on to play for Bloemfontein Celtic development.
The second player to be snatched by the PSL development side was Garth Sharpley from East London, who is at Chippa United development.
Msingathi Qokweni, from Litha, who is playing for Bidvest Wits’ development side, is dubbed to feature in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge Festival at Sisa Dukashe Stadium on Saturday.
The talented left wing, who impressed Wits scouts during the 2018 CSYDA tour in Johannesburg, said leaving Scenery park felt unreal, and he still couldn’t believe his dream was coming true.
“I’ve always dreamt of taking my mother out of the shack and I feel now that’s going to come through,” said Teto.
“It’s been a challenging time for me at the academy, because everything is done professionally there and I had to adapt to everything.
“All those things I’ve learnt from coach Carlos Mtsamba [founder of CSYDA] will go a long way in helping me reach my goals of playing for Orlando Pirates,” he said.
Mtshamba said Teto was on the right path, and that soon he’d also be getting professional offers, “because the talent and skill is there. We just gave him the basics of football.
“For instance, Qokweni is in demand now. Two PSL teams are looking to sign him to their senior teams, and there’s one team in National First Division that also wants him.
“So Aphelele is on his way as well. He just has to listen to his coaches at Wits and work hard,” said Mtshamba.
He said the aim of the academy’s annual tour to Wits and SuperSport was aimed at giving exposure to young players.
“We want them to see how things are done at professional clubs. We met Wits at Sturrock Park, and Dillon Sheppard with his colleague Ashley Makhanya, who produced top players in the country, were impressed with Teto.
“And we all know Makhanya produced top players like Sibusiso Vilakazi at Sundowns. You are talking about Bhongolwethu Jayiya, and others.
“So this is part of our partnership with Wits and SuperSport.
“I’m proud of this boy because we only started working with him last year in May and he’s a hard worker.”
Mtshamba added: “I want to thank our stakeholders who’ve been very supportive to us; BCM Sports Council, the mayor Xola Pakati, and head of sport and special programmes, councillor Xolani Witbooi.
“Also thanks to Motion Fitness Club Hemingways Mall for helping us keep our boys in good shape, and the parents of these boys.”
BCM Sport Council’s Mzuvukile Tempi took his hat off to CSYDA for providing rare opportunities to local PSL hopefuls.
“As the BCM sport council our mandate is to try and administer sport within the region, so that whatever opportunity arises for our kids we support that fully.
“There’s talent in our area, and when we get this sort of support from this academy it’s a good thing for us.
“We just need to keep supporting the academy, and we want to appeal to business people within the municipality to come on board and assist in that regard,” said Tempi.
I’ve always dreamt of taking my mother out of the shack and I feel now that’s going to come through