January 23, 2006
By Lucky Sindane
PLAYING for Joburg soccer giants Kaizer Chiefs has always been a dream of 13-year-old Siyabonga Masondo – and the first step came true on Friday afternoon.
The Joburg schoolboy, from Sindiswa Higher Primary School, was one of about 150 boys and girls from five primary schools to attend a coaching clinic on Friday, 20 January.
Bevan Fransman hands out magazines to the youngsters |
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Kaizer Chiefs and Russian visitors FC Moscow held the clinic at FNB Stadium in Soweto. The stadium, better known as Soccer City, is viewed as the home of South African soccer and is being punted as a major venue for the hosting of the 2010 Soccer World Cup.
The children could not contain their excitement from the moment they arrived, already wearing their soccer gear. Jumping from cars, they shouted, "Come on let's go – we are late and the coach is going to shout at us."
Down at the field they could not believe their eyes – here was a field packed with the Kaizer Chiefs and FC Moscow first teams. The children anxiously queued at the touchline, waiting to be divided into small groups.
Then, when the moment they had all been waiting for came, they impressed the players and the coaching staff with their hard work, with many playing like future Bafana Bafana stars.
The children were put through their paces by players and coaching staff from the two teams. Training included different routines, from five-a-side games to shooting practice.
"I am very happy to be here. I've met all my favourite players and I never thought it would happen so soon," said a jubilant Siyabonga.
"It was nice to work with these kids, they are amazing," said Kaizer Chiefs captain Patrick Mabedi. "My advice to them is to keep up the good work; you'll go far."
At the end of the coaching clinic, the young players were given Kaizer Chiefs magazines and scarves, and two tickets each to the Kaizer Chiefs and FC Moscow match, which took place on Saturday, 21 January at Soccer City.
The Russians beat the local heroes 8 – 7 on penalties after the match ended with a level score.
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