SAFA’s technical committee chair Jack Maluleka has made an exciting revelation about the association’s plans for a youth national team.
Maluleka, who also serves as Waterberg president for SAFA, was speaking on the sidelines of the fifth edition of the FARPost Cup in Modimolle, Limpopo.
He said they were looking to introduce a national Under 15 team. Maluleka believes the FARPost Cup could come in handy as they pursue the initiative.
INTERNATIONAL EXPOSURE
The move is seen as necessary to aid the development of young football talent in the country. It will also giving future Bafana Bafana stars international exposure from a young age.
“The national teams are struggling. That’s why we want to start an Under 15 national team. The FARPost Cup will show us that we have players around. We want to have a pool of players in that age group,” he told Kaizer Chiefs legend Doctor Khumalo.
It was the fifth edition, with the final leg dubbed ‘Champ of Champs’ set for next month in Polokwane. The last leg will draw select sides from the five Limpopo regions, and they will battle it out for honours.
Maluleka, the Limpopo chair for SAFA, said the tournament had been a success and had to be replicated nationally.
The initiative has targeted remote areas where scouts and top clubs rarely go in search of raw football talent.
Five players have been signed by local clubs, with several others being monitored after being spotted at the tournament.
FARPOST REACHED ALL VILLAGES
“We realised the vision of FARPost is big and matches that of the NEC, so we started in Limpopo.
“It’s necessary to ensure all rural areas are catered for. FARPost reached all villages in Limpopo.
“We’re happy to be part of this partnership. We’ve always wanted a partner to expose this raw talent,” explained Maluleka.
He further revealed that he had engaged informally with SAFA president Danny Jordaan regarding a national initiative that takes football to rural areas. “Next year, we will have to do other provinces,” he said.
The SAFA boss hailed FARPost for also including women in the tournament, saying it would go a long way in developing the women’s game.
He called on more companies to come on board and take the game to the most neglected regions of the country.
Maluleka believes such a step would help keep the youth off the streets and far from social ills.
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