The Tshaka family from Better Life in Lower Crossroads is over the moon after their youngest son was officially signed by Sundowns Football Club late last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hlumile Tshaka (12) previously played for Cape Town Spurs FC u-12 before he moved to Pretoria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hlumile\u2019s father, Mlamli Tshaka said he is so ecstatic by his son\u2019s move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stated that he didn\u2019t expect the move to happen so soon. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said his son joined the Urban Warriors early in 2022. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHlumile played for Ithembalabantu FC in Lower Crossroads and Watergate FC in Watergate respectively before I took him to the trials of CT Spurs FC late in 2021. At that time he was playing for u-9. When he arrived in CT Spurs he played for u-12 even though he was still young. He had been there for two years playing for u-12,\u201d explained Mlamli. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hlumile is the second brother to be signed to a major club, with his eldest brother Ibongwe (18) signed to Cape Town City development. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think I\u2019m a lucky father for having two children playing for some of the biggest teams in the country. I wish them all the best in their future endeavours. I believe their move to the well-known teams will motivate other young players that were playing with them in the townships, especially in Vuyiseka Sports Complex in Lower Crossroads,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a parent, he had to do the right thing for his children to allow them to showcase their talent somewhere, he says.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It was not easy to allow Hlumile to play at Sundowns, he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSundowns took him permanently early this year. It is going to take care of my son and even send him to school. I always prioritised education for them because I always say soccer is a short career. They can get an injury that can rule them out for the rest of their lives. So, education is something that they can fall back on if their career is cut short,\u201d he explained. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said soccer is in their genes as almost everyone in the family used to play soccer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI was playing in the amateur football at Tsomo in Eastern Cape. Half of our team was made up of my brothers and cousins. People used to call it Tshaka\u2019s FC,\u201d he says. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mlamli urged parents to support their children in whatever they are doing as not all children are good academically.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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