Club keeps youth on ball
Regular training, matches held
Friendly soccer matches between the local Under 13 and U15 soccer clubs at the Mamityi Gidana Stadium in Ndlovini keep children focused on fitness and fun.
PA Young Chiefs FC, Romans FC, Baroka FC, Mighty Forest FC, Moscow FC and visiting side Eleven Destroyers FC played on Saturday May 28, with some games held on Sunday.
PA Young Chiefs Football Club was established in 2019 by coach Anele Isaac as a way to get youngsters active in the Nemato township.
His love for the youth keeps him motivated to keep going, even with the lack of proper gear.
“These kids love sport and at training you can see they enjoy what they’re doing, which makes my job much easier.
“They truly keep me motivated and I also see a bright future ahead for them,” he said.
The players train from 4pm until 5pm from Monday to Thursday, and organise friendly matches with other local clubs on weekends. Isaac said regular training kept the young players occupied after school, helping steer them away from falling prey to substance abuse.
“What motivates me to keep going is to keep these boys out of drugs and alcohol by encouraging them to focus at school and participate in sport,” he said.
Their regular training paid off when they won all three of their matches last weekend.
On Saturday, the U13s beat Romans 1-0, and on Sunday defeated Baroka 1-0, and Romans again, this time 2-0.
Visiting side, Eleven Destroyers Football Club, from Bathurst, played two matches on the day, with the U13s losing to Romans 0-2.
Fortunes turned for the U15s when they won 3-1 on penalties against Romans.
Even though PA Young Chiefs does not have sponsorship, Isaac said the players’ families had been very supportive towards the team.
This encouraged him to not give up, because one day he will be lucky and get recognised for sponsorship, he said.