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.
โThey 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 โฆ they changed the destination to England. I was selected, we started training and eventually left the country,โ Josephs told FARPost. The talented attacker played five matches during the trip.
THE ARSENAL EXPERIENCE โWAS DIFFERENTโ
โThe experience there was different. Thereโs more hunger for football there than what I have seen in South Africa. That hunger for the game is the biggest difference. Thatโs what sets them apart from us. They are also more disciplined, and they take the game seriously,โ he added.
Riverlea coach Justin Faver said the youngster had returned a different person. โThat was something new for him because he had never experienced it. It was his first time on a plane. The experience he broughtโฆ heโs on a different level. Heโs come back from England with a different mindset. Heโs hungry, heโs doing more,โ Faver told FARPost.
Meanwhile, Josephs is now using the FARPost Cup to showcase his talent. โItโs my second time playing in the FARPost Cup, so I already know the structure. Thereโs a lot of talent here, and there are also a lot of scouts,โ said the young attacker.
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