Concordia’s ‘Rock’ selected for Copa Coca-Cola All-Star team

NAMAKWALAND’S Concordia High School pupil Alwyn “The Rock” Maart has been selected for the Copa Coca-Cola All-Star team that will play against a Premier Soccer League club’s Under-15 side at the upcoming national finals in September.

Maart, a promising goalkeeper and Grade 10 pupil at Concordia High School, made the cut to the prestigious youth select side during Northern Cape provincial finals of the Copa Coca-Cola competition last Saturday.

The well-built and confident shot stopper was chosen after showcasing a promising goalkeeping talent and saving his school, that had a weak defence, from severe embarrassment on several occasions.

“This is just so unexpected, but I’m proud of myself and the progress I’m making as a young goalkeeper,” Maart said.

“I am happy that the scouts saw something in me, and I believe that this is a good start as I look to pursue a career in the professional ranks one day. I so look forward to being part of the All Star team at the national finals,” he added.

The 15-year old not only plays football, but is equally talented in rugby and cricket – two other codes in which he represents his school and the Province.

Spokesperson for the youth contest Siya Mahlaba said the sponsor’s initiative in conjunction with the South African Schools Football Association (Sasfa) had sent competition ambassador Hareaipha Simba Marumo along with a panel of football experts and media on visitation to all nine provinces in search of players that “embody and represent the dynamic and unique roles needed to make up a successful team”.

Mahlaba explained that the sponsor devised a number of characteristic and traits as part of the youth sports campaign which are then ascribed to certain players who fit in with them; such as the Rock, the Heart, the Perfectionist, the Rebel, the Joker, the Impossible, the Machine, the Artist, the Underdog, the Mastermind and the Legend.

Players fitting these characteristics are selected to form the “Which Part Will You Play” All-Star team. They are then given the opportunity to play a curtain-raiser match ahead of the official national finals tournament against a youth side from the particular province’s or town’s professional side.

Maart is, no doubt, waiting patiently for this match.