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Gauteng trio completes La Liga mission

October 21, 2016 11:23 am by: Category: Featured, Football, National, SPORTS Leave a comment A+ / A-

sa-trio-in-spainBy MTHULISI SIBANDA
JOHANNESBURG – THREE South African youngsters are back from Spain where they had embarked a life-changing trip to hone their skills in the La Liga.

They went to the European country courtesy of winning the 2016 Future Players Gauteng Talent Search programme.

Charlton Jade Alfred, Philane Kunene and Prince Moeketsi, along with Future Coach winner Christa Kgamphe, spent eight days in Europe as guests of the Spanish LaLiga.

The players visited top LaLiga clubs Atletico Madrid, Valencia and Villarreal, and had a tour of Real Madrid’s legendary Bernabeu Stadium, among many highlights.

The young stars trained with the Under-17 sides of the three LaLiga teams.

“I really enjoyed my week in Spain, we did so many things,” Moeketsi said.

“I saw [Fernando] Torres twice and went to three stadiums. I will come back very soon to play for big teams like Real Madrid or Villarreal!

Alfred says they were well received and that the feedback from the clubs
was positive.

“I especially enjoyed the session with Villarreal and the coaches were very impressed with my performance,” he says. “I really wish I could join the club because they treated me like their own brother even though they did not know me!” says Alfred.

Kgamphe says she too enjoyed their visit to Villarreal, where she was asked to take a training session.

“I got to learn about session planning and sticking to the plan, the importance of introducing the ball from the warm-up,” she says.

“I was allowed to coach my three players and was asked sports questions. Having the first team and the younger teams training in the same facility was motivating enough.”

The Future Players initiative is a partnership between the Gauteng Provincial Government and Global Sports International and has been running since 2009.

Gauteng MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Faith Mazibuko, says she is pleased the youngsters and coach enjoyed their stay in Spain.

“I would like to congratulate them all on the manner in which they represented South Africa and the Gauteng Province in Spain, they were true ambassadors for their country,” Mazibuko says.

The Spanish LaLiga, which has offices in Gauteng as part of their commitment to grow the brand in Africa, were delighted to host the winners.

“For LaLiga it is essential to commit to projects like Future Champions, since grassroots football and the search of young talented players, are part of LaLiga’s resolution to give back to the African continent,” says
LaLiga Africa Director, Antonio Barradas.
Guardian

Gauteng trio completes La Liga mission Reviewed by on . By MTHULISI SIBANDA JOHANNESBURG - THREE South African youngsters are back from Spain where they had embarked a life-changing trip to hone their skills in the L By MTHULISI SIBANDA JOHANNESBURG - THREE South African youngsters are back from Spain where they had embarked a life-changing trip to hone their skills in the L Rating: 0

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