From Tshepisong and Matholesville to Witpoortjie and the Roodepoort CBD, Roodepoort Academy has been nurturing local talent. The soccer academy, formerly known as Soya (Serve Ordinary Youth of Africa) has been training young boys for three years.
Junior team coach April Seqela and his friends Junior Moya, Regnald Rammile and S.K van Wyk built the team together after noticing a need for an academy in the area. Since its inception, the academy’s teams have been participating in the Joburg West Soccer League. However, the academy has been struggling with providing its players with playing and training kits and various equipment to help them make an impact in the league.
“We were training at the park next to the community pools in the Roodepoort CBD before the Roodepoort Sports Club gave us a helping hand. There is a lot that we need to be able to challenge teams in the league. We need cones for training drills, bibs, tracksuits and help with maintaining our field. But most of all we need help with transportation. With so many of our players living in different areas of Roodepoort, it gets tough to have to fetch them for practice and match days,” said April.
The academy has over 70 players divided into the U/10, U/13, and U/15 teams as well as a first team and an Amakroko team for the players under 35.
“Having so many teams is a blessing but also a curse, because we never have enough equipment for everyone if at all. Having equipment gives the young players confidence. Our players’ parents try to help where they can but they are also struggling. Our players are mostly from disadvantaged backgrounds and don’t have much to begin with. Trying to ask them or their parents for help is something I cannot do,” said April.
The teams are now getting ready for the new season of the Joburg West Soccer League which will kick off later this month. The teams play most of their matches in Westbury.
For more information or to assist the club, contact April on 063 857 9385 or 076 733 5282.
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