Mamelodi Sundowns Chairman Thlopie Motsepe says they want to emulate the biggest clubs in the world that buy the best talent available but still able to produce players able to break into the first team.
Sundowns made a major step in their development program with the investment into the Global Soccer Schools, previously affiliated with the now-defunct SuperSport United.
It was another intentional move to the future of the Brazilians’ who have not hide their desire to recruit and develop the best talent in the country, with the overall vision of becoming a proverbial La Masia of Mzansi.
“The whole purpose of Mamelodi Sundowns Soccer Schools is to continue the great work done by Nick, Stef and the global soccer sports team, as well as SuperSport United, we’ve always long admired and respected the work they did in helping young footballers progress through their system and find their way into the first team,” he said.
“That is something at Mamelodi Sundowns, we have tried to replicate, we want to try and embrace and make sure we can continue that pattern of seeing players go through the ranks of the Soccer Schools, into the academies, and find their way into the first teams.
“Then of course represent the national team, and the reason why we chose the venue, it’s close to the club, we wanted to make sure the players can be here and help support the initiative and give it the send-off it deserves.
“But it’s also important that we’re at the various other launches that will be happening, as we rebrand the soccer schools to make sure the different franchises across the country get the same send-off and continue with the same message we want to create.
“We’re very excited with what we’ve started, but it’s also what Nick said, it’s a continuation and maybe a beginning of something, that we hope will be truly beneficial for South African football going forward.”
But with the heavy investment into ready-made talent to challenge for silverware and an inflated club, there was a genuine questioned posed to Motsepe about finding the correct balance of buying and providing opportunities for youth, where the likes of Malibongwe Khoza and Cassius Mailula as home grown products have set an example for the current generation.
“I think we take a lot of solace from models that we see in football clubs around the world, big successful football clubs that also attract, talented players to the club, like Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Arsenal – they have the resources to attract that talent, they do buy players but you still see very talented players emerge from their academy,” Motsepe explained.
“And the special thing is; you see this as supporters of these clubs, they are so passionate and feel so much for players who come from the academy, one of their own, so for us it’s imperative, we want to continue, we want to make sure we find those talents, good enough to break into the first team.
“But on top of that, as I said, not every child that comes, and is part of this programs is going to finish in the first team – but what we do want to do is give as many children, who are exposed to the programs, who love football, to get a closer contact with our club, with professional football, so we can ignite those dreams, because who knows where they’ll end up.
“If they are closed in the football eco-system, they might find a way to contribute and be even more beneficial outside the pitch.”
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