The 2013 Future Players talent search programme continues to make its way around Gauteng

Johannesburg, Wednesday, 13 February 2013 – The 2013 Future Players Talent Search got off to a fantastic start this past weekend when more than 1600 youngsters were put through their paces at the two trial venues.

Over 1100 learners were present at the Mamelodi Sports Grounds for trials in the Gauteng North and Tshwane South regions on Saturday, while another 500 turned up at the Athletics Sports Stadium in Ennerdale on Sunday for trials in the Johannesburg Central region.

A total of 20 coaches put the learners through their five different skills tests before deciding which had the talent to advance to the next round of the search.

It is an incredible start for the programme, which is looking to unearth the best young talent in Gauteng, in the Under-17 age group, with the aim of putting 10 000 boys and girls through the course and on the road to possible superstardom.

The Future Players initiative, run in conjunction with the Gauteng Provincial Government, is open to youngsters aged 13 to 16, and will have trials at centers around the province through the months of February and March, leading up to the big reveal of who will be the 2013 Future Players Talent Search winner.

Next up are trials at the Braamfisher Sport Complex for the Johannesburg West region on Saturday, 16th February 2013, where organizers are aiming for up to 1000 more learners to grab their chance, impress and perhaps emulate Refiloe Jane, who won the talent search in 2009 and has gone on to represent Banyana Banyana at the London Olympics and the 2012 African Women’s Championship.

But aside from the skills assessment that is used to identify the best of the young participants, all learners also take part in a 45-minute life-skills programme that is presented by representatives of Grassroot Soccer’s ‘Skillz’ programme which teaches about living a healthy, risk-free life.

Each set of trials for the 2013 Future Players Talent Search will get under way at 09h00 and finish at 15h00. The youngsters also get treated to a food pack from loyal partner, Pick ‘n Pay.

The best youngsters from the 15 district trials will be chosen for the semi-finals on March 23, with the final to be staged at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville on March 30.

The remaining thirteen district trials will take place on the following dates and at these venues:

DATE DISTRICT VENUE
16 February Johannesburg West Braamfisher Sport Complex
23 February Johannesburg East Johannesburg Stadium
23 February Tshwane North & West Hillview High school
24 February Sedibeng East & West Isak Steyl Stadium, Vaal
16 March Johannesburg South & North UJ Soweto Campus
16 March Gauteng West Greenhills Stadium
17 March Ekurhuleni South & North School Sports of Excellence
23 March Semi-finals Venue to be confirmed
30 March Final Nike Football Training Centre, Pimville

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  • We had a wonderful football and cultural experience in Gauteng. The tournament and activities were very well organized and we found everyone involved extremely helpful and accommodating. We have all returned home with fantastic memories of our time in South Africa, both on and off the pitch, and have made many new friends as a result of the trip. I hope that we are invited to participate in future tournaments.

    Everton Academy Head Coach

  • The experience both on and off the field for our players during the Future Champions tournament in Gauteng was life-enriching for all those who participated. We were privileged enough to win this edition but what will be bringing us back in future is the cross-cultural education our players receive from spending time with athletes from all over the world. They are human beings before they are football players and enriching them with other cultures is as rewarding as the experience they receive on the field.

    Club Tijuana Director of Football

  • After twenty years of experiencing tournaments around the globe, Future Champions is hands down the best organized, well run International Tournament we have ever participated in. Bringing teams from dozens of different countries provided our boys exposure to cultural diversity they only read about in textbooks. It’s amazing how sport can be the cultural link that provides the opportunity to interact with each other and discover that our global community is a bit smaller than they realized. We had a football and cultural experience that will be cherished for the rest of our lives.

    Director of USYSA Select

  • For us to compete in Future Champions is much more than playing a series of matches. It is an opportunity to compete and contrast our level against the best teams from around the world and the possibility of living in another culture and environment for an unforgettable week, learning about the history of the fight for human rights.

    Director of Aspire Academy

  • The addition of a girls’ competition this year is a natural expansion for what has become a hugely popular event. Over and above the football, the players are also exposed to life-skills courses and HIV/AIDS awareness that could end up saving their lives in the future. We have had an amazing partnership with the Gauteng Province over the last decade and we thank each and every stakeholder for making the Future Champions Gauteng campaign such a huge success

    Tournament director