Youngsters for Europe

A source at the KwaZulu-Natal Academy has told Phakaaathi the club is looking to export some 15 young footballers when they embark on a European tour later this year. The football institution has been exporting a number of players to Europe in the last couple of years with most of them ending up in Portugal. “The tour will give an opportunity to our talented boys to discover their dreams and ply their trade in top leagues. It is every footballer’s dream to play at the highest level and that is what we want for our players,” said the source. The KZN academy is expected to visit Spain and Portugal. It has produced the likes of Thabo Cele and Sibusio Shibane who play for Real SC and Vitoria Setubal respectively. Cash causes stars to lose focus

High salary packages force South African players to lose the hunger and desire to move abroad, Mamelodi Sundowns defender Anele Ngcongca (above) has said. “For a young player, it shouldn’t be about the money, it is about getting exposure. In the end, the clubs are paying players well and they will say they don’t need to go out of their comfort zone in Europe. It shouldn’t be about the money at all,” said the former Bafana Bafana international, who spent the better part of his career plying his trade in Belgium and France.

Sibusiso Vilakazi (above) was taken to task on social media platform Instagram after he posted a throwback picture of himself with the Caf Champions League winners’ medal in 2016. Vila, as he is otherwise known, did not take part in Mamelodi Sundowns’ 2016 Champions League winning campaign, because he was not eligible, having played for Wits in the same competition in the same year. However, he still received a medal. “How did you get a medal without having played a single match?,” commented one user.