Soccer pins hopes on Danny
Mayor can help with development, say officials
THE grassroots soccer programme in Port Elizabeth’s northern areas has suffered a considerable slump in recent years with a lack of funding and a shortage of equipment leading to stagnation in development.
The Northern Areas Football Association (Nafa) has always focused on producing players who could slot into various teams – locally and nationally.
But with little to no money being allocated towards the development of soccer, it has become difficult to secure sponsors and produce potential players.
Hope has been ignited with the appointment of new Bay mayor Danny Jordaan, who once played in this league.
“The children we are recruiting are not rich, they are mostly from the gang-ridden Gelvandale area and some even struggle to bring in money for the registration fee,” FC Swallows youth coach Roy Mitchell said.
Despite this problem, Swallows do see an increase in players each year especially in the youth division.
Alongside the inadequate facilities, there is also a desperate need for qualified coaches to bring out the best and give equal attention to every boy who joined the club.
Mitchell said recently sponsors were forced to pull out because Swallows did not have their own fields.
On the bright side, the club has received funding from Spar Gelvandale and even featured in a television commercial showcasing Spar’s involvement in developing the league.
“We are hoping our new mayor will help us out,” Mitchell said. “He used to play for this club, so the hope is strong.”
Swallows have added to the tally of young footballers climbing up the national leagues.
Striker Devon Kekana, who started his footballing career at Swallows, was offered a four-year scholarship at North West University, where he has been dubbed “Christmas Erasmus” because of his goals.
The Goldman brothers, Tashreeq and Nithaar, both goalkeepers, also represent the prestige of Swallows academy, with Nithaar signing for Free State Stars and Black Leopards’ Tashrique also having played for Santos, Chippa United and Milano FC. Another exciting prospect for South African football is defensive midfielder Kirk de Boer, who plays at an academy in the US.
“The goals for the club have changed,” Mitchell says.
“It used to be about winning at all costs. Now we are trying to focus more on developing good, responsible young men, especially with the prevalent drug and gangsterism problem in the area.”
Most of the clubs in the league are in the same predicament as Swallows. Nafa president Clive Killian also hopes the metro will come to the party.
“Funding for anything in the northern areas will be a concern because of the unemployment and the crime rate,” Killian said.
“With Danny Jordaan as the new mayor there is a plan to apply for fundraising in a hope that he will understand the financial situation and the need to develop not only the Northern Areas League but also all over the metro.
“Despite having no adequate funds for kits or equipment, there are still over 3 000 junior players registering every year.”