Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
11-year-old boy to compete in soccer tournament in Spain
AN aspiring soccer player from Strandfontein will be participating in the Madrid Cup in Spain next month.
Joshua Brown is in grade six at Dennegeur Primary School and has been selected to participate in the Madrid Cup (MAD CUP 2024) in Spain and needs to raise R35000 to cover his costs which include accommodation and return flights.
Joshua is part of Shosholoza FC Academy and began his soccer training and experience with Strandfontein Football Club (AFC) when he was just five-years-old.
He will be part of a unique tournament, which has seen over 40 countries from five continents, with 770 teams and 14000 players and just over 2000 matches played since its inception.
The international tournament will take place between June 21 and 26.
Joshua's mother Natasha Hendricks said they were rallying around to raise funds after she became unemployed and recently began her own initiative.
“It's been very tough getting support from many as l was retrenched in December last year and I have just started a small business which still needs to get off the ground and I need to boost and supplement my income,” she said.
“With Joshua being
selected participate in the Madrid Cup in Spain next month, we need to raise R35000 to cover all costs including accommodation, return flight costs and expenses, etc.”
Hendricks said her son was an avid soccer player who worked very hard to achieve his goals.
“With Joshua only being 11-yearsold, he has big dreams to make a difference and become a professional soccer player,” she said.
“And with this dream, he's proved himself well at his community club. Last yearh he was the top goal scorer with 33 goals throughout the entire season.
“He's played well at the start of the season this year with a hat trick, and has more goals in his league matches. He plays as a striker or midfielder, and is assistant captain of the squad.
“He then was successful at the trials that Shosholoza held for U12 hopefuls and began his new experience with Shosholoza in January this year.
“In March, he was selected to participate in the Madrid Tournament for U12s, playing 7v7 in Spain.
“He leaves on June 14 with his squad who will be playing a five-day tournament and they then tour for a week before heading back home to SA.”
Joshua said he was thrilled to have been chosen.
“I feel very nervous but at the same time excited and really happy to go to Spain and play in Madrid against the big clubs with a very big possibility of getting scouted,” he said.
“As part of fundraising, an All White Party, Old School & Jazz evening will be held in aid of Joshua on May 31 at 7pm at Westend Lounge, College Road, Rylands, with ticket sales priced at R100.
If you can assist him, please contact his mother Natasha on 072 903 7177.