The 2013 Future Players talent search programme heads for Highlands North, Hillview and Sedibeng

Johannesburg, Wednesday, 20 February 2013 – The 2013 Future Players Talent Search capped another fantastic weekend as over 1100 learners were put through their paces at the Braamfischer Multi-Purpose Centre on Saturday, 16th February.

The trials were held for learners from the Johannesburg West region and surroundings, with the turnout showing how the competition has captured the imagination of those seeking to make football a professional career.

A total of 17 coaches put the learners through five different skills tests before deciding which had the talent to advance to the next round of the search.

It follows the first weekend of the search where over 1600 learners participated. The programme is now well on its way to achieving the target 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 continue to have trials at centres around the province until March, leading up to the big reveal of who will be the 2013 Future Players Talent Search winner.

Next up there are three sets of trials this coming weekend. On Saturday, 23rd February, Highlands North Boys High will be the venue for learners in the Johannesburg East region, while the Hillview High School will entertain learners from the Tshwane North & West region.

The trials taking place at the Isak Steyl Stadium at the Vaal University of Technology on Sunday, 24th February will run in conjunction with the 2013 Future Champions Schools Cup. The Schools Cup features 16 teams from Gauteng chosen by the South African Schools Football Association (SASFA), with the top two sides competing in the 2013 Future Champions Gauteng Cup tournament next month.

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-final and final to be staged at the Nike Football Training Centre in Pimville on March 30.

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

DATE DISTRICT VENUE
23 February Johannesburg East Highlands North Boys High
23 February Tshwane North & West Hillview High school
24 February Sedibeng East & West Isak Steyl Stadium
16 March Johannesburg South & North UJ Soweto Campus
16 March Gauteng West Greenhills Stadium
17 March Ekurhuleni South & North School Sports of Excellence
17 March Gauteng East Kwa-Tema Sports Complex
30 March Semi-Finals and Final Nike Football Training Centre, Pimville

  • 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