Weekend Argus (Saturday Edition)
Junior academy kicks off for young soccer players
A FEW young soccer players from Stellenbosch, Paarl, Somerset West, Strand, Kuils River, Durbanville and Sir Lowry’s Pass have joined a new junior academy.
The PRG soccer initiative launched this month and 32 under 11s and 13s and 27 under 7s and under 9s joined as the first members of the PRG Junior Academy.
PRG president Edmund Pietersen said the academy would improve the standard of high school soccer in the area as well as at Paul Roos Gimnasium, a high school in Stellenbosch.
‘’It exposes soccer players from surrounding primary schools to the PRG sport culture and philosophy and allows PRG to identify and develop these talented young players.
“Soccer practise for junior academy members will be scheduled for Mondays to Thursdays from 5.15pm till 6.15pm, year round,’’ he said.
Cruz Jumat is a 9-year-old who has joined the PRG soccer academy. He said he enjoyed practising with his coach and it was improving his soccer skills, as well as helping him with discipline on and off the field.
“My dad said it’s a good school that will help me to improve my sport skills in soccer, cricket and tennis, but also to improve my school work so I can be a good man one day like my mom would like me to be,’’ he said.
Another player, Ben Wentzel, 10, from Stellenbosch, said he had attended three practices since he joined the academy.
“The academy helps me play better soccer, like how to pass a ball to my friends.
“I like my coach Eddie a lot. I really want to go to Paul Roos because my brother is there and I want to go and play first team soccer there too,’’ he said.
PRG will hold a holiday clinic for learners aged between 7 and 13. It will take place on March 25 and 26 at Paul Roos. The clinic is open to non-academy soccer players.
The junior soccer academy and holiday clinic cater for boys and girls.
To join the junior academy or to sign up for the holiday clinic, parents can contact Edmund Pietersen at epietersen@paulroos.co.za or 083 536 6930.