A world of opportunities awaits 17-year-old Dimakatso Njabulo Mafila from Mbekweni, one of a select group of seven promising young football players who will travel to Seville, Spain during December.
The Grade 11 learner at Noorder Paarl High School, in May, was among 70 promising young football players between age 10 and 19 who took part in a three-day football training camp in Paarl. It was hosted by Athletes Sphere Management (ASM) in South Africa in partnership with Real Betis Balompié.
Since then only seven young footballers were chosen from the group to form part of the Real Betis Academy tour to Spain.
“I feel happy to travel to Real Betis in Seville, Spain to gain a lot of experience,” an excited Dimakatso said. “This opportunity is also opening doors for me to be seen by other professionals football coaches. My expectation is to be scouted to attend soccer trials with pro clubs in Spain in December and join an academy in 2024.
“I am grateful for the support and guidance I have received from my family, friends, coaches and teammates. Their belief in me has been a driving force in my success, and I am excited to make them proud. I am also looking forward to the opportunity to learn and grow as a player. I know being a part of Real Betis will push me to new levels, and I am ready to embrace the challenge with dedication and determination.”
According to the young footballer he was 10 years old when he fell in love with the sport.
“I used to watch my big brother playing in the street. I wanted to play as well then I decided to join his football club, named Battalions. That’s where my skills developed, and I started to play for the school when I was in Grade 9, in 2021. The following year I became Player of the Year, which I was selected as this year as well.
“That’s when I realised God had given me this gift of football.
“I am truly honoured to have been chosen by Real Betis, and I am eager to represent the club with passion and pride. I will do everything in my power to contribute to the team and help them achieve their goals.
“I am ready to give my all, both on and off the field, and I am committed to making the most of this incredible opportunity.”
ASM is a world-class sports management company, based in Zimbabwe, and has international business networks across the globe including Africa and Europe. Real Betis Balompié on the other hand, also known as Real Betis, is an internationally acclaimed Spanish professional football team.
Ryan Kroutz, director of Athletes Sphere Management (ASM) in South Africa, says the training camp, hosted at the Faure Stadium in Paarl, focused on coaches and football players from various high schools and communities in the Cape Winelands area
He explained: “As part of a strategic alliance we extended an invitation to the Knysna and Namaqualand communities. Coaches and players were trained by the Real Betis technical team and the programme focused on the methodology of Real Betis Balompié.
“Real Betis is one of the top performing clubs in La Liga as well as the Europa league.
“They will stay at the Real Betis hotel, experience the Real Betis facility, be trained and scouted by the Real Betis technical coaches and so much more. This is an opportunity I believe can be life-changing for the football players of the Winelands.”
According to Kroutz they will travel to Seville from 15 to 22 December.
All expenses for each player are covered, which include 4-star accommodation, five training sessions with Real Betis teams, training facilities tour, a stadium tour (Estadio Benito Villamarín) and much more.
Kroutz said a full programme had already been drawn up for the touring players.
“This includes a presentation with many unlimited career opportunities and pathways depending on their talent level.
“Further assessment and development will also be done by Real Betis Academy technical coaches, through training and playing matches with Real Betis Academy teams and local teams during the week.”
The other six players who are accompanying Dimakatso are Zevinio Estley-Junior Swartz (14, Namakwaland); Tyresse Ulrich King (15, Delft); Gaylon Williams (18, Knysna); Zaydaan Shaboodien (14, Cape Town); Victor John Holland (17; Cape Town) and Tamaryn le Chat (21, Knysna).
Dimakatso could not express his gratitude enough.
“Thank you to Real Betis for believing in me and giving me this chance. I will not take it for granted, and I am determined to make the most of every moment. I can’t wait to start this new chapter and see where this journey takes me.”
