ETS coach talks developing quality players RUIMSIG – Brian Chauke from Cosmo City dribbles around cones during a training session at Education Through Soccer.,ETS coach Paradise Moeketsi appeals for support for youth soccer development.

Brian Chauke from Cosmo City dribbles around cones during a training session at Education Through Soccer.

Top soccer development coach Paradise Moeketsi is adamant that South Africa would produce more well-developed and marketable players if the support of players was enhanced from ground level.

Despite different player backgrounds, the Education Through Soccer (ETS) academy coach said youngsters must be granted equal opportunities and support for them to reach greater heights.

Moeketsi, who has developed elite players such as Lehlohonolo Majoro, the former Kaizer Chiefs and Orlando Pirates striker, and the late Sundowns player Gift Leremi, highlighted that he nurtured young talent from different communities. He added that some players who come from townships sometimes lack opportunities to play due to financial difficulties.

Education Through Soccer coach Paradise Moeketsi gives instructions during soccer training at the academy.

However, he indicated that he taught the players to share with one another at training.

“We try and mix players from Zandspruit, Cosmo City and Ruimsig. We teach the players to share because [you] sometimes find that other players have three sets of soccer boots while others have to borrow,” he said.

Moeketsi has more than 25 years of coaching experience and is the force behind the success of Nibonile Dlamini’s soccer career, a 15-year-old girl who was recently scouted by Banyana Banyana juniors.


Moeketsi stressed that many talented youngsters were trapped in the townships because they were prevented from getting exposure and opportunities by their supposed mentors. “When they [mentors] bring players to the academy, the mentors want rewards, but we try and explain that the player is still an unfinished product.”

On such individual is promising player Brian Chauke (15) from Cosmo City. He hopes to turn professional but has obstacles preventing his success. He said he walked from Cosmo City to Ruimsig to attend training and his parents were not fully supportive.

Education Through Soccer coach Paradise Moeketsi observes young players training at the academy.

Moeketsi added that they provided food over weekends for the players to keep them focused during matches. He also appealed to the community and local businesses to assist the boys with training equipment and transport.

Details: educationthroughsoccer@gmail.com

Donations keep winter chills at bay COSMO CITY – Volunteers work together to donate winter essentials to community members and organisations.

Volunteers Di van Zyl, Lyn van Zyl and Rosanela Pierce prepare snacks for the soup kitchen.

Organisations collaborated and opened their hearts to the community through giving back during the last week of June.

Imvuno Enhle, Randburg Square and Liberty Church in Cosmo City made the handovers possible.

Randburg Square marketing manager Rosanela Pierce said the centre hosted the Walk in their Shoes campaign where 1 017 pairs shoes were collected at the end of April. A total of 120 shoes were donated to the Knysna disaster initiative, and 300 pairs were also donated to the Doxa Deo Randburg Street Store, which will kick off on 1 July at the Windsor Recreation Centre.

Volunteers who are passionate about helping people. 

“We then partnered with NPO Imvuno Enhle to distribute the remaining shoes collected in conjunction with their charity initiatives. These include delivering winter items to homeless people on the streets of Randburg at 5am, and participating in a soup kitchen at Liberty Church at 8am. Afterwards, myself and the Imvuno team visited three homes where we dropped off food, clothing and shoes,” said Pierce.

Randburg Square marketing manager Rosanela Pierce prepares soup at Liberty Church.

She added these charities included Frida Hartley Shelter for Destitute Women and Children, Bethany Home, and Home of Hope. Liberty Church volunteer Lyn van Zyl said she believes it is great to get in touch with the community this way. She was one of the volunteers at the church’s soup kitchen that takes place every Saturday during winter.

A homeless man receives a pair of shoes.

“When you see these little children in the middle of winter with no shoes and warm clothes, it’s very touching to see their joy when you give them a warm meal,” said Van Zyl.

Bethany Home receive hampers for the children.

Children from the community show their excitement at Liberty Church. 

Displaced people keep warm with donated blankets. 

Members of the community during the soup kitchen initiative.

More shoes will be donated at the next drive at the end of July. For more information on how to get involved, visit the Imvuno Enhle Facebook page.

Pierce thanked everyone who donated shoes and clothing, including all the sponsors who made the initiative a great success.

Cosmo City school children take a stand against the recent spate of violence in SA

COSMO CITY – Learners, police and province take a stand against women and child abuse.

Public Safety officer Monkie Rammala with the marching learners on the corner of Angola Avenue and South Africa Drive in Cosmo City.

Cosmo City Junior Primary School children rallied with Honeydew police and the Gauteng Department of Community Safety to raise awareness about the recent spate of women murders, rape and child abuse on 2 May.

The little ones confidently marched from their school on Angola Avenue to the busy intersection of South Africa Drive where they raised their placards inked with sorrowful and hard-hitting messages against the scourge. They were accompanied by their teachers to make sure that they were safe.

Warrant Officer Leshaba Ramalatso from the Social Crime Prevention Unit at Honeydew Police Station, delivered a talk advising the youngsters to be careful of the dangers of social media, especially meeting strangers on Facebook. Ramalatso added that a couple of children had gone missing in the area and were found dead in recent years.

Public Safety officer Ramalatso Rammala and Warrant Officer Leshaba Ramalatso support the action against women and child abuse held by learners from Cosmo City Junior Primary School.

Monkie Rammala, a Road Safety Unit representative, said they decided to participate in the march because of the government’s concern about the abduction of women and children using public transport.

“As a public representative, [we] are worried because the perpetrators use public transport to target women and children. We are aware that there is a Toyota Quantum around Gauteng abducting children,” said Rammala.

He added that the message will be effective because it was channelled through the children who pass it on to their parents.

Spartan FC nurtures the talent of young players in Cosmo City

COSMO CITY – Spartan FC aspires to be a professional football academy which helps children nurture their talent.

Spartan FC senior team participates in various tournaments throughout Gauteng.

Spartan FC is a club of hope which combines football, academic and social skills to nurture the talent and social development of young people.

The club currently plays in the newly formed Cosmo City’s Senior Soccer League on Sundays and competes in different tournaments on Saturdays throughout Gauteng. The club was formed in Kya Sands informal settlement in 2012 as Mighty Killers but was relaunched in 2014 when co-founder Whiskey Ngobeni moved to Cosmo City.

Spartan FC club chairperson Howard Molepe and club founder Whiskey Ngobeni want to get young footballers off the streets.

The club is registered with the Rand Central Local Football Association and recruits players from different areas including Diepsloot and Kya Sands.

Last year, Ngobeni and the club chairperson Howard Molepe decided to incorporate U13 and U14 divisions and this year they are expecting to launch an U11 division.

“The main idea here is to take the kids off the street,” said Molepe. “This is to ensure that they are not exposed to the ills of society. This is a platform to help them know that as talented players, they could get opportunities to turn professional.” He added that they also used the club as a medium to teach young people life skills and to help them with their academic work after school.

Spartan FC plays in the Senior Soccer League in Cosmo City.

Funding is the main stumbling block for this club. It currently does not have a training ground and players practise in an open field. Some players do not have soccer boots and the club owners pay for the players’ transport.

“We will accept any assistance since we need training cones, balls, track suits and other soccer equipment,” said Ngobeni.

There are currently 30 senior players and about 45 development players registered at the club.

A celebration of our continent on Africa Day COSMO CITY – The community came together to celebrate Africa Day and the heritage of the continent.

Veronica Makutu, Alina Monare, Sarie Tshabalala, Sarah Mpono and Cynthia Molefe sell organic vegetables to the community.

The City of Johannesburg’s Social Development Department hosted Africa Day celebrations at the Cosmo City Multipurpose Centre.

The event was well attended by residents, organisations and the city’s government representatives.

Robinson Sathekge, City of Johannesburg’s head of the sub-unit migration, said Africa Day is an annual event the City has hosted for many years.

Jeanette Phikwane, Mavis Dube, Bradley Muttitt, Nono Sehete and Abiah Mahlase display their beautiful handcrafted garments.

“Africa Day is celebrated throughout the continent and is an initiative where we celebrate African leaders. The founding day of the Organisation of African Unity, currently known as the African Union, shows the resilience of former leaders who fought for our liberation. I see a number of people are excited, dressed in traditional clothes, and glad the event is being celebrated by the community,” said Sathekge.

Young people work together to make their business a success.

He added that the City also celebrates Africa day with a soccer tournament that is made up of eight under 19 soccer teams consisting of community members. The regions compete against each other. Region D won against Region C.

The event had various stalls from organisations that were there to promote and sell their proudly South African products and services. Nurses also vaccinated children against measles as part of the 24-day immunisation campaign in Gauteng.

A nurse vaccinates a child for measles as part of a 24 day measles campaign in Gauteng.

MAD designers Bradley Muttitt and Abiah Mahlase were also there to showcase items made by women to raise funds for their designs in Malawi.

Designers Abiah Mahlase and Bradley Muttitt at the Africa Day celebrations.

City of Johannesburg’s health and social development MMC, Dr Mpho Phalatse, spoke about the misconception the world has about Africa. In spite of misconceptions about the continent, Phalatse said it is imperative for people to be aware of their history so that they can protect our continent.

“Johannesburg joins all Africans in celebrating the continent’s achievements and in recommitting ourselves to continuing the pursuit of collaboration with our fellow African brothers and sisters, and in unity, work hard in building a better Africa and a better world – as per our theme this year.”

Region D players win against Region C players during a soccer match at the Africa Day event.

Robinson Sathekge, head of the sub-unit migration at the City of Johannesburg, attends Africa Day.

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