Riverlea teenager Luciano Josephs says he got a glimpse of the standards required to play at the highest level when he featured against clubs like Arsenal in England recently. The 16-year-old winger spent time overseas in July, testing himself against several academy teams, including Arsenal and Coventry City.
Josephs, who plays his club football for Sophiatown, caught the eye again during the FARPost Cup at the Nike Football Training Centre in Soweto. He scored twice as Riverlea beat Olivenhoutbosch 3-1 on Saturday morning. Speaking to FARPost after the match, the youngster explained that his journey to England began with a tournament in Westbury.
“They called me and said there was a showcase tournament in Panorama, where players could be selected to go to Dubai. But then the war started … they changed the destination to England. I was selected, we started training and eventually left the country,” Josephs told FARPost. The talented attacker played five matches during the trip.
THE ARSENAL EXPERIENCE “WAS DIFFERENT”
“The experience there was different. There’s more hunger for football there than what I have seen in South Africa. That hunger for the game is the biggest difference. That’s what sets them apart from us. They are also more disciplined, and they take the game seriously,” he added.
Riverlea coach Justin Faver said the youngster had returned a different person. “That was something new for him because he had never experienced it. It was his first time on a plane. The experience he brought… he’s on a different level. He’s come back from England with a different mindset. He’s hungry, he’s doing more,” Faver told FARPost.
Meanwhile, Josephs is now using the FARPost Cup to showcase his talent. “It’s my second time playing in the FARPost Cup, so I already know the structure. There’s a lot of talent here, and there are also a lot of scouts,” said the young attacker.
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