Sunward Park to compete at 2014 Future Champions
Sunward Park will be the sole representative for schools teams in South Africa competing at this year’s Future Champions Gauteng International Tournament later this month.
The u-16 soccer team book their ticket to the tournament having come through both the Gauteng Schools Cup and the Gauteng Cup proper.
The tournament will be played from March 24 to 29, at the Nike Training Centre in Pimville, Soweto.
Sunward Park has been drawn in Group C at the tournament along with defending champions Club Tijuana from Mexico, Nigerian side Saki West and the Aspire Academy from Qatar.
They are joined by Jomo Cosmos, SuperSport United and Mamelodi Sundowns as the country’s representatives in the tournament.
The school’s sports manager, Thabo Tiki, says they will go in as the tournament’s surprise package.
“We don’t know any of these teams and they don’t know us, because this is our first time in this tournament, so we want to surprise them.
“The first game is going to be the most important. If we get maximum points, the rest will be history,” says a confident Tiki.
Tiki adds that the competition will be hugely beneficial for the team.
“The boys will gain international experience. They are willing to showcase their talents and they are ready.
“This won’t be the first time we play against international opposition, however; we’ve played in a tournament in Germany in 2011, which will come in handy this time around.”
The team trains every weekday between 3.30pm and 5pm under the watchful eye of level three coaches (FIFA-qualified coaches), and Tiki believes that implementing professional coaching and providing A-grade training facilities to more schools would be beneficial for upcoming future stars in the country.
“It’s very important for young players to get proper nurturing. They have to get proper training rather than just letting them run around the pitch.
“There is so much talent in Ekurhuleni. Look at the Kaizer Chiefs defender Lorenzo Gordinho. Why can’t we have five players from Ekurhuleni play in the PSL?”
The school is a partner of the Diambars programme that seeks to assist African players in starting soccer careers in Europe. It was started by former France World Cup winners Patrick Vieira and Bernard Lama in 2000.
“The Diambers Academy is situated right here, right where you are standing,” he said in an interview at the school’s ground.
“There are two Diambers Academies in Africa, one here and the other is in Senegal.”
Tiki went on to express his gratitude to the schools headmaster, ASH Peena, whom he says played a vital role in the progress of the team.
“She’s supportive, she’s organised, she’s a professional and she’s been a pillar to our success. None of this would have happened if it wasn’t for her.”
Should Sunward Park last longer than their South African rivals in the tournament, they will progress to the next tournament, which will be hosted in Russia (2018 FIFA World Cup destination) in November this year.
* Group A: Brazzaville, Toronto FC, Shandong, Jomo Cosmos
* Group B: K Stars, Ado Den Haag, Atletico Mineiro, SuperSport United
* Group C: Saki West, Aspire Academy, Club Tijuana, Sunward Park
* Group D: Royal Wahandoh, Sunderland, USYSA Select, Mamelodi Sundowns
