The fourth edition of South Africa’s largest football talent search is edging closer for aspiring footballers all over the country. Through the Ke Yona Team Search, Nedbank will once again lay the foundation for the unearthing of the country’s next football diamonds such as Jerrad Meyer (Jomo Cosmos), Ian Chikohwa (University of Pretoria FC), Luthando Sixhaso (Kaizer Chiefs) and Maphosa Modiba (Mpumalanga Black Aces & SA U23) who are excelling in their clubs and as well as the junior national teams.
The country’s leading football talent search initiative is set to kick off in Bloemfontein with Cape Town, Port Elizabeth, Durban and Gauteng in line to host the other try outs. The brains trust entrusted by Nedbank to unearth talent from the furthest parts of country will again be Shakes Mashaba, Owen Da Gama, Khabo Zondo and Mike Mangena. The Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search’s success is in line with Nedbank’s goal of making the things that really matter happen and this has been commendably demonstrated through players such as Maphosa Modiba who emerged from the furthest part of Limpopo to now represent South Africa in country’s such as Brazil. Also living his dream of professional football is Cape Town born, goalkeeper Luthando Sixhaso who’s is being mentored by the country’s the number one goalkeeper, Itumeleng Khune at Kaizer Chiefs. The 2015 Ke Yona Team captain, Ian Chikohwa made his maiden appearance in the Nedbank Cup with a dream goal to cement his place in Shaun Bartlett’s team.
South African U23 head coach, Owen Da Gama urged aspiring footballers between the ages of 18 and 23 to partner with Nedbank and make their football dreams happen.
“It is that exciting time of the year again where we travel across the country to discover untapped talent. Talent identification is crucial in developing a competitive football nation and through the Ke Yona Team Search; we are able to play our part as coaches in identifying talent. We therefore urge players to take up this opportunity presented by Nedbank and make their football dreams a reality,” said Da Gama.
Nedbank’s Head of Sponsorships and Cause Marketing, Tobie Badenhorst emphasised Nedbank’s commitment to making peoples dreams happen and wished the 2016 Ke Yona Team Trialists the best of luck.
“The Nedbank Ke Yona team search continues to demonstrate what we do as a business everyday – enabling our customers and communities to make the things that really matter happen. We are always looking at finding innovative and effective means of reaching out to communities and affording them the opportunity to realize their dreams and make the things that really matter for them. We therefore wish this year’s participants the best of luck in this year’s Ke Yona Team Search” said Badenhorst.
2016 Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search Try Out Dates:
27 April 2016 – Seisa Ramabodu Stadium, Bloemfontein, Free State
30 April 2016 – Wolfson Stadium, Uitenhage, Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape
2 May 2016 – Athlone Stadium, Cape Town, Western Cape
7 May 2016 – King Zwelithini Stadium, Durban, KwaZulu-Natal
21 May 2016 – Rand Stadium, Rosettenville, Gauteng
4 June 2016 – Lucas Moripe Stadium, Pretoria, Gauteng
