Ndlambe football star needs help to secure flight to Denmark
Teen selected to compete in prestigious tournament
Rising Ndlambe football star Emihle Ngontsi, 16, will be looking to impress talent scouts when he participates in Denmark’s prestigious Dana Cup in July.
However, Ngontsi’s hopes of boarding the plane to Denmark depends on whether he can pay the R61,000 that is needed for a visa, return airfare, accommodation, transport and team tracksuits during his team’s two-week stay abroad.
The talented footballer and his dad, Xolisile “Scarra” Mamani and mom, Bongiwe Doni, are in a race against time to source funding which they hope will arrive in time for him to secure his flight ticket to Denmark.
“We will appreciate assistance of any kind to help Emihle realise his dream as he is a talented and dedicated young footballer,” his mom, Bongiwe, said.
A grade 10 pupil at Kuyasa Combined School, Emihle had to endure a three-month wait to hear if he had got the nod following trials with Gqeberha-based football academy, KeepActive Sport Development in September.
Emihle will represent a composite team from the academy at Denmark’s Dana Cup.
The attacking winger, who plays for Paubs in both SAB and the local football association’s first leagues, started out his football at primary school level after watching a Lionel Messi video and soon decided that “this career is for me”.
Bongiwe who is her son’s number one supporter, decided he was talented enough to enter for the Gqeberha trials after seeing an advert on Facebook.
“I got accepted with the other 45 players who attended camp and it was quite a tough trial,” said Emihle. “We played three games in one day and I was exhausted by the end of it.”
Bongiwe attends as many games as she can together with Emihle’s footballer dad, Xolisile. “I have seen him many times on the field …I believe in him and he is very good at his sport. The comments I get from people at matches are always very good and they always tell me I should make sure I support him,” said Bongiwe.
“My hero is Messi because he is skilful and scores goals,” Emihle said.
Such is Emihle’s talent that he was drafted into Paubs’ first team at the age of 13. “That was when I realised that this [football] was definitely for me,” he said.
Emihle said he was thankful to his mentor and teacher at Kuyasa Combined school Khaya “Paper” Mize, who always believed in him.
“My parents also have done a lot to help me to get where I am today.”
Dad Xolisile said: “Because I was a footballer too [for Young Ideas] and still playing veterans now, I was excited when we received news of his inclusion as this boy is very talented.
“Emihle is a utility player, he can play anywhere on the field of play. And, by the way, he is also very good at cricket.”
Emihle said he was excited to play in Denmark.
“I am really upbeat and hope to achieve a lot of things … score goals and win some prizes for top goalscorer maybe and hope coaches over there will see my talent as I would like to play football at the highest level.
An added string to Emihle’s bow is that he seems to have a wise head on his young shoulders. He believes there are many sides to being a good footballer.
“… if you don’t have a good mentality on and off the field you will never make it.
Discipline is very important. And you have to learn to play under pressure, for example if you are behind on the scoreboard in a match, you have to stay positive on the field of play.”
Paubs’ executive member Luthando Matomela says they are extremely proud and excited about Emihle’s selection to play in the Dana Cup.
“Emihle is a very disciplined and talented football player. We could see it from a young age — he was 13 when he started playing in our first division, so you can just imagine the talent he possesses.
“Emihle trains hard in the offseason, when others are possibly laying off. There are not many youngsters with his kind of dedication; it is very rare to find youth with this level of commitment. His mom and dad, have been supportive and are always making sure that he is available to play.
“This really is a huge feather in the cap for the club.”
Bongiwe and Xolisile will be grateful for any donations or sponsorship that will assist Emihle to make the trip to Denmark.
They can be contacted on 079-928-7749 or 069-422-5920.