Cape Town, February 2019. Harnessing the power of youth through sports mentorship with the aim to invest and develop their talents for positive life impact saw Infinite Skilz, in partnership with technology platform Sklz and sports gear brand Under Armour, bringing U13 boys and girls of Fezeka High School in Gugulethu together for a day of soccer mentorship with professional soccer greats Defender Neil Winstanley and Olympic qualifier Ryan Botha on the Saturday, 23 February 2019.
Local coach pros of the day, Neil Winstanley and Ryan Botha brought both their skills, their passion for the game and a desire to share their experiences of the business of soccer to the disadvantaged youths who eagerly gathered for the big day with Infinite Skilz at the Hickory Road Astro Turf in Athlone.
Commenting on his participation, Neil Winstanley said: “Infinite Skilz is highlighting the need for youth development and the sad lack of investment in sport in South Africa. The great man himself Nelson Mandela couldn't have said it better: ‘Sport has the power to change the world, the power to inspire, the power to unite people in a way that little else does’”.
With a long, star-studded career, Winstanley has played as both Defender and Full Back for Bidvest Wits University FC, Bafana Bafana, Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and on full international matches and at World Cup Qualifiers for South Africa with Bafana Bafana, Cosafa Cup, and African Cup of Nations.
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“It’s my personal experience that sport breaks down racial barriers and discrimination and brings communities together,” he said. “As a nation, we need to encourage our kids to play sport and to be a part of a team, so they have an alternative to crime, drugs and gangsterism. Kids are our future and the lessons we would like to teach them through this initiative will hopefully last them a lifetime.”
Ryan Botha agrees that sport in South Africa has stagnated and that progression starts with the nation’s youth. Botha is a professional Striker and left Winger who has played for South Africa and in the UEFA Cup and Olympic Qualifiers and represented Supersport, Wits, Tervarit (Finland 1st division), Mypa (Finland premier league), FC Inter (Finland premier league), Denizlispor (Turkey premier league), ENP (Cyprus premier league), Thanda Royal, Moroka Swallows, and Platinum Stars.
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“I feel strongly that without giving back years of experience in the game that has treated us so well we would be letting down all those that had dreams of becoming a professional athlete but couldn’t,” said Botha.
“One of my favourite sporting memories was scoring two goals in the first four minutes of our Olympic qualifier against Algeria. I’m going to be drilling the kids on the Infinite Skilz day with my favourite finishing drills and watching as that ball sails into the top corner of the goals.”
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From 10am this past Saturday morning the Infinite Skilz kids were put through a programme of both basic motor skills and fundamental football skills, but more essentially, were mentored in teamwork. More intense training will be shared regarding dribbles and turns, kicking with both feet, speed and explosive footwork.
Says Winstanley: “Nothing beats that feeling of playing in front of 110 000 people at the FNB Stadium when I was with my old team Kaizer Chiefs. We want to empower these kids to look at aiming their talents at that.”
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