The Zeekoevlei High School U19 Boys Soccer Team earned a prestigious invitation to compete in the Super Soccer Schools Tournament, set to take place in Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth) in August this year.
The national tournament draws some of the finest school football teams from across South Africa, and Zeekoevlei has been selected to proudly fly the flag for the Western Cape.
The squad is made up of talented young men from the communities of Ottery, Lotus River, Phumlani Village, and Pelican Park.
Dream realised
The Super Soccer Schools Tournament is a premier elite high school football competition in South Africa, bringing together top under-16 and under-19 boys’ and girls’ teams from across all nine provinces.
The event is hosted by Urban Academy in Gqeberha and is broadcast on the SuperSport Schools platform.
The tournament features provincial knockout playoffs in each of the nine provinces.
For these learners, football is far more than a game, according to their coach and teacher, Jordan Gysman.
“Soccer runs in my blood. I played the game since a young age. The game has given me a lot, friendships and lots of life lessons and this is something I’d like to pass on to the boys, it’s not just about winning. It’s about creating memories and forming lifetime bonds,” he said.
Zeekoevlei High’s soccer players were beaming with pride after hearing about their tournament qualification, he added.
Funding needed
“We felt proud and immensely grateful for the opportunity. This has been our goal for the past 2 years. When we heard the news, the boys were over the moon because we knew it meant we would be travelling to PE and getting another opportunity to showcase our talent and ability,” he said.
However, the group still needs support when it comes to raising funds to cover their transport costs and accommodation.
“Yes of course we need support, especially with finances. At the moment we managed to raise just over R10000, we need another R60000 to make our trip possible. We thank everyone that has donated and supported us thus far. Most of our challenges have been financially but we always overcome this hurdle. We are thankful to those sponsors and brands that showed up for us,” he said.
Among the items needed for the group include: soccer balls and sport kits.
Community pride
Fellow player Darren Basson, from Lotus River, he says he fell in love with the sport at the age of 7.
Darren is a central midfielder who dictates play and breaks down the opposition’s attack.
“I mean every soccer player’s future goals is to become a professional soccer player. I would love to make it as a pro but I would also like to be an inspiration to the young lads in the community and make it possible for younger ones that love this game and give the chances I maybe didn’t get,” he said.
Another player, Jermaine Baatjies says his biggest football idol is Cristiano Ronaldo.
“I enjoy playing football because it keeps me active, teaches me discipline, and allows me to work with others as a team. I always try to improve my skills and give my best in every match,” he said.
Striker, Ijaaz Williamson says soccer has been his “escape” from the stress of everyday life.
“Growing up, I spent hours playing with friends whenever I had the chance. The joy of scoring goals and competing made me realize that football was more than just a game it was my passion,” he said.
The players are bursting with excitement for the soccer tour as some of them had never been outside of the Western Cape.
“This is going to be eye opening and life changing for them. We want to inspire, we want to spread hope and leave people, young or old with the message that – nothing is impossible. We should never let our circumstances define us. I always tell the boys “everything starts with a dream, and we will continue dreaming,” he said.
For more information, contact Jordan Gysman at 081 355 1073 or gysmanjordan007@gmail.com
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