Soccer inspires youth
Marselle academy rewards top performers
Excitement and pride were in the air as Marselle United Sport Academy (Musa) hosted their annual award ceremony on Saturday, November 18.
The event, held in Marselle’s community hall, was to recognise and celebrate the commitment, dedication, and discipline that their young players had shown this year.
“There are no fewer than 85 awards being presented today,” coach Lukholo Gqabothi told the gathering.
Gqabothi started by emphasising that: “Every one of you is a winner — every single one just for coming to soccer practice and contributing to your team.”
It was a roll of honour of the best kind, as Gqabothi proceeded with a citation for each child and indeed there was an acknowledgement of every team contribution — from motivator, hard-working player of the season, fans favourite and best in academics, to top goal scorer, footballer of the season and players’ player of the season.
Senior players Ashanti Mgungula, Anathi Klaas and Simbule Kitsana assisted with the ceremony along with club chair and ward committee member Malibongwe Mangele.
Gqabothi, whose home is Marselle, explained how the club had come about — only a year and four months earlier.
“There was very little for young people here in Marselle, and we wanted to attract children away from negative activities and towards a great future,” Gqabothi, who is studying marketing at Nelson Mandela University.
Coming for training week in, week out are 25 girls, 25 under15 boys and 35 senior (firstteam squad) boys.
“We’ve only been going for just over a year and we’ve come so far already, ” Gqabothi said.
“Next year we ’ re aiming to be in the Sarah Baartman District League.” The club has a five-year plan, he said.
“We are going to establish a netball club and, a little further down the line, a tennis club all to create opportunities for people in Marselle.”
Mangele is going to do everything he can to support the project, he says. He is involved in domestic animal care and food garden projects through the Kariega Foundation.
“Where others see problems, here at MUSA we see solutions,” he said.