Kick-off to success
RUIMSIG – Two young soccer stars are bound to have much success.
Having a special talent is something that no one could ever take away from you. It can only get better with training and a coach who cares enough to give you an opportunity to advance and brighten your future.
Rafique Hassim is a sports conditioner who aims to take young soccer players to the next level. Kyle Stuart (21) and Dean Forster (20), both from Ruimsig, are young stars worthy of attention.
Hassim said that he helps the players with various soccer skills, like endurance, speed, power, agility and conditioning. These skills are technical soccer skills that are needed to further careers of young up-and-coming soccer stars. “The players differs in age. The youngest player I train is eight years old,” said Hassim. Hassim takes it upon himself to give players an opportunity to get soccer scholarships and further their careers.
Stuart is a goalkeeper who recently returned from Italy where he played. Before that, he played in the Netherlands and Scotland. “I started playing at Panorama Football Club when I was six years old and later went to Randburg Football Club,” said Stuart. When he was 15, he had to choose between different clubs and chose to play for the Mamelodi Sundowns, because the team had European coaches and it was always his dream to play professionally in Europe.
Stuart is now back in South Africa for a holiday and will have many opportunities once he goes back. “I can go to Cyprus, Greece or Belgium, but I am still waiting to hear from my agent,” said Stuart. He added that his goal is to be in the Premiere League. “I am driven and strive to always be the best,” said Stuart.
Forster is a forward and started to play soccer at the age of four. He began playing on a serious level at 15 and currently plays at Dalton State College in the USA. “I can’t thank Rafique enough for all he has done for me. He has helped me so much to get to America,” said Forster. He said that in all his baby photos he was always posing with a soccer ball so it’s only natural that he became a soccer player.
“I want to set realistic goals. I want to play professionally in America, but I will add goals as I go,” said Forster. He said that soccer differs in America as it is more technical than in South Africa.
Hassim said that he is proud of both players and has high hopes for them.
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