Semi-pro football on its way to Phoenix, courtesy of umlazi club
SEMI-PROFESSIONAL football is on its way to Phoenix, Durban.
The football-crazed community will have its very own ABC Motsepe League team to cheer in the coming season.
Rainham Seskhona is set to operate out of Eastbury Grounds after Phoenix-based businessman Julian Moodley bought a 50% stake in the umlazi club.
The 53-year-old has been the man behind Rainham’s success in the SA Football Association Phoenix ranks. Rainham has won the association’s premier league for the past three years.
With the vision and desire to raise the profile of the game in his home town, Moodley snapped up the opportunity to buy into Seskhona and sway its chairman and co-owner, Muntomuhle Mbhele, to relocate to Phoenix.
“For too long we have been playing amateur and SAB League football in Phoenix,” Moodley said.
“It is time to for us to take a step up and enjoy the game at a higher level.”
Challenge
When the deal between Moodley and Mbhele was agreed in February, Seskhona FC were fighting relegation.
Since Mbhele and Moodley have joined forces, Seskhona have strung together some good performances and eventually finished 13th in the 15-team league, and maintained their status in the process.
“Players like Menzi Chilli and Sbusiso Mdamba brought stability when they joined the team,” Moodley said. “It was a big challenge, but we managed to survive after some encouraging results.”
The newly formed club will give budding footballers from Phoenix a chance to shine in a highly competitive arena, confirmed Moodley, who has been involved in the game for the past three decades.
Moodley added: “The league requires every team to start each match with five under-23 players, so this is a big opportunity for youngsters from Phoenix to play in a big league.
“We will be hosting trials in the coming weeks as we prepare for next season. I urge all clubs to send their promising players for trials.
“This is a club that Phoenix must get behind and support.”
With former coach Mlungisi Masinga opting to take on the role of team manager in the coming season, Moodley and Mbhele have asked for the experienced Claude Tarin to coach Seskhona.
“We are looking to give Claude a great opportunity to take this team to the next level.
“He will be assisted by former Amazulu player Mdu Nxele, who knows this environment well.”