Sports / Soccer
Highlanders, First Mobile Academy partnership takes shape
17 Nov 2011 at 11:51hrs | Views
Picture: Highlamnders FC Chairman Themba Ndlela admiring the donated kit in the company of Melod Mpofu, Highlanders Office Administrator.
BOSSO, Highlanders Football Club's junior development program this week received a major boost after receiving a substantial consignment of kit from First Mobile Academy as part of a partnership agreement reached earlier this year with the Canadian-based sporting institution.
Highlanders chairman, Themba Ndlela said the arrival of the kit was a sign that the partnership is bearing fruit. "This is the first consignment of several kits that we are going to receive from FMA as per agreement. "The consignment we received includes two sets of uniforms, a set of tracksuits, two sets of socks and a set of training bibs," he said. The consignment is valued at US$4,500.
Ndlela said he was glad the partnership was bearing fruit and that the new kit was going to be a boost for the juniors who have in fact been doing well on the field of play. "The juniors have been forced to use hand me downs disposed off by the first team and this has been demoralizing.
"I am glad we now have new uniforms for them," he said.
Ndlela said they want to adequately equip each player to ensure that they develop well without any hindrance. The under-14 and 18 teams emerged victorious in their respective leagues while the under-16 came second in their league. The weekend also saw under-14s coming tops in the Ajax Hotspurs tournament featuring four teams held in Mpopoma over the weekend and.
Ndlela added receiving the uniforms was a sign the club's vision of sustaining itself through junior development policy was progressing well. "We are aiming at ensuring the juniors academy is turned into a business unit through which we will be able to produce players for the senior team while at the same time exporting players. Our aim is to ensure that in three years time, we export three players to Europe. This is a long term project as we also expect to generate revenue through selling players regionally and internationally," he said.
Ndlela said the plan put in place in 2009 to focus on grooming players rather than buying was bearing fruit. "We now have more home grown players than those sourced from outside our system in our current squad", he added.
FMA director, Isaac Mbedzi will be in the country on 22 November and is expected to watch several profile games by the juniors which will also be video recorded.
Highlanders chairman, Themba Ndlela said the arrival of the kit was a sign that the partnership is bearing fruit. "This is the first consignment of several kits that we are going to receive from FMA as per agreement. "The consignment we received includes two sets of uniforms, a set of tracksuits, two sets of socks and a set of training bibs," he said. The consignment is valued at US$4,500.
Ndlela said he was glad the partnership was bearing fruit and that the new kit was going to be a boost for the juniors who have in fact been doing well on the field of play. "The juniors have been forced to use hand me downs disposed off by the first team and this has been demoralizing.
"I am glad we now have new uniforms for them," he said.
Ndlela added receiving the uniforms was a sign the club's vision of sustaining itself through junior development policy was progressing well. "We are aiming at ensuring the juniors academy is turned into a business unit through which we will be able to produce players for the senior team while at the same time exporting players. Our aim is to ensure that in three years time, we export three players to Europe. This is a long term project as we also expect to generate revenue through selling players regionally and internationally," he said.
Ndlela said the plan put in place in 2009 to focus on grooming players rather than buying was bearing fruit. "We now have more home grown players than those sourced from outside our system in our current squad", he added.
FMA director, Isaac Mbedzi will be in the country on 22 November and is expected to watch several profile games by the juniors which will also be video recorded.
Source - www.highlandersfc.co.za
