Durban Central set to grow its young footballers

SA Football Association Durban Central will emphasise the growth of junior football in the 2018 season.

Local Football Association (LFA) president Errol Sewnarain confirmed an influx of teams into the fold over the past few weeks.

With more than 80 clubs and 1 600 youngsters registered, the association boasts one of the most vibrant amateur structures in the province.

“We kicked off a few weeks ago and, to our surprise, were inundated with registrations from Pinetown, Durban South and Montclair clubs,” said Sewnarain. “They have found a home at Durban Central and we are happy to have them. A strong junior structure will keep us going forward.”

Sewnarain says his executive had mapped out a plan to develop youngsters throughout the year. The first major project was to launch a Futsal league primarily for juniors.

“We will be the first LFA in KZN to host an official Futsal league in a few weeks’ time. Countries like Spain, Portugal and Brazil have been using the indoor version to hone the skills of their players for many years. It is now time for us to benefit from its potential.

“All our clubs will be invited to enter a team. We have also been in discussions with the national futsal coach, Chris Naidoo, who will join us as a consultant. We want to get the most out of this programme.”

In addition, the LFA will host a string of coaching courses under the guidance of the sport’s parent body, Safa. “It is important for us to keep improving the skills of our coaches,” Sewnarain said. “Mentoring young players is a very specific skill and our coaches need to be up to date on how to get the best out of them.”