KAIZER CHIEFS SOCCER ACADEMY TRIALS
Aims and Objectives
The aim of Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development is to identify
players with excellent football skills and
assist them in achieving their football ambition while also empowering them with academic enrichment.
We produce quality players for the Kaizer Chiefs senior team in order to sustain the success of the club
and also contribute to various national teams in the country.
Overview
The Youth Development was started around the 1970s operating from Soweto and later had its
base in Rockville to accommodate all the players from around Soweto. It was then known as
Kaizer Chiefs Reserve side and attracted most of its players from Rockville and surrounding
areas of Soweto. It was from this base where players like, Rider Mofokeng, Wellington Manyathi,
Doctor Kumalo, Brian Baloyi, Thabo Mooki, Ntsie Maphike and Trevor Mthimkulu were identified.
Today some of these players are coaches in the Youth Development and others are still household
names in their own rights.
The Reserve Side then evolved in the 1980s to include other junior teams like the under-10 and
under-12 Chappies Little League that produced players like Tshepo Molatedi as well as the
Toyota U21 where players like Isaac Kungoane were discovered. The main reason for
playing in these competitions was to attract players outside Soweto and also to market the
Kaizer Chiefs brand.
In 1996 Kaizer Chiefs forged working links with one of the top universities in South Africa,
Rand Afrikaanse University which had an image of being a white University to blend the
image of the two organisation and produce a true South African partnership.
The RAU Chiefs Development was based on true partnership of exposing football
players to an institution that had all facilities in education, psychology, and welfare as
well as being part of a renowned Football Club.
This relationship produced a number of interesting results both academically and in sporting
world. A number of players from the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development were awarded certificates
in Sports management as well as one degree while the following players emerged from the
Academy: Jabu Pule, Kaizer Motaung Jnr, Isaac Mabotsa, Thabiso Malatsi, Nhlanhla Kubeka,
Nhlanhla Mathebula, Gerald Sibeko, Buti Sithole, Junior Kanye and recently Lucky Mzizi. Other
players who graduated from the academy and could not be accommodated in the senior team
where loaned to other teams while some players like Patrick Thwala were sold outright.
The Youth Development used RAU infrastructure in the form of soccer fields, psychologists,
physiotherapists and other facilities including accommodation.
The objective was to attract the best and promising youngsters around South Africa and this was
achieved by the club’s largest network of passionate supporters.
TRIALS BY AGE
In 2003, the Youth Development was attracting a number of younger players from the ages of 12
years into the Programme. This necessitated a new approach as the schooling and the housing
of these players. To achieve that, the Youth Development moved to St. Barnabas College in Bosmont
which offered a one stop facility for training, schooling, boarding and lodging for our younger players.
St Barnabas College was chosen for its good academic record over the years. In the past year,
the club has moved some of their players doing Grade 12 to Meadowlands High School in Soweto
and their presence has elevated the standard of soccer at the school.
>> Crystal Palace Academy Trial
In 2006, the Youth Development achieved one of the major milestones when it partnered with the
Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and Central Johannesburg College to form an alliance that
would allow Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development to have exclusive use of the Central Johannesburg
College sporting facilities at Highveld College including soccer fields, gymnasium. This partnership
also included the moving in-house of the Youth Development players to have exclusive use of the 180
bed hostel, the kitchen and dining facilities. With this relationship, Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development
will be able to reach the local communities, thus imparting football knowledge as well as other life
skills to the community.
This agreement also opens all academic facilities within the control of Central Johannesburg
College to Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development. These facilities include Life Skills Programme, Computer
Training Facilities, Engeneering (Electrical and Civil), Arts and culture, plumbing and bricklaying.
Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development is now a fully fletched academy with players from the ages of 12 to
18 years. The players who come from outside Johannesburg who were previously housed at St
Barnabas and the Club House in Auckland Park have now been relocated to Highveld College resident.
The Youth Development is supported by a structure of highly qualified staff in their various
disciplines starting from management, education and coaching.
The Administration
Vincent Williams – Manager Youth Development Programme whose overall responsibility is
to oversee all activities of the Youth Development
Adison Bongani Mngadi – Education Manager whose responsibility is total education
responsibility within the Youth Development.
Abe Ditsego – Transport Manage and House father who is responsible for all
transport logistics in the Development including responsibility for boarding and
lodging of players.
Benett Mehlomakhulu – Kit Manager responsible for players kit and uniform
Joe Matebege - Kit Manager responsible for players kit and uniform
Current Coaching Staff
Ryder Mofokeng
Doctor Khumalo
Ntsie Mphike
In 2006, the Youth Development and the whole soccer fraternity lost Patrick “Ace”
Ntsoelengoe who was our under 15 coach at the time of his death.
The staff is constantly in touch with players looking after their welfare, schooling and
medical needs. Regular interface between parents and the Development staff is
encouraged thus helping bridge the gap of players being home sick. This is done in the
form of formal meetings or by telephone.
Youth Development Achievements
Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development players have been involved in a number of local
as well as international tournaments as a team or the players being part of a National structure.
Our players were part of a group that represented South Africa in France in
1998 in an International Youth Competition in which they were knocked out by
Argentine in the final. Some players were involved in the Danone Competition in
France 2002 and were knocked out in the semi-final by Holland.
In June 2003 the Youth Development Under 15 team was invited to participate in
The Milk Cup competition in Ireland. Our team played against most youth teams
from the English Premier Division Clubs and was knocked out in the final by Maccabi
Heifa from Israel.
A number of players impressed the scouts in this tournament and one of our player,
Michael Nkabule has been signed by Straussberg Academy in France.
In 2004, the Under 15 team won the National Nike Tournament and went to play in
the International Manchester United Premier Cup in Manchester, England.
During 2004, our teams won the U15, U17 and U19 local league titles with the
U13 being placed second. Earlier in 2005, the U17 competed in the Zayed International
Youth Cup in Abu Dhabi. Our team came third in this competition with bronze medals.
The Kaizer Chiefs U13 Development team competed in the MDC International Youth
Tournament in Seoul, Korea in June 2005 where they played against National
teams from Korea, Paraguay and Japan. They were beaten in the finals by Japan
National team and were awarded FIFA Fair Play Shield and Silver medals.
In June 2006, Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development U19 side competed in the Hong
Kong Sevens Football tournament. This is a seven a side tournament played in Hong
Kong by most of the European and Asian teams.
In August 2006 the Under-17 team was invited to compete in a U17 World Tournament in
Spain. In this tournament teams from as far as South America and Europe were invited
and Kaizer Chiefs was the only team from South Africa. Our performance in this tournament
was excellent as Real Madrid in the quarter finals.
The Youth Academy reports their developments directly to the Kaizer Chiefs management
on a regular basis and the senior team technical staff always provides the necessary
support. Senior team players recovering from injuries are sometimes allowed to train with
the Reserve team in the Academy as well as getting involved in playing friendly games with
the Youth teams. This is used as a bridging exercise to enable the junior players to acclimatize
themselves with senior players. At other times, some Development players are also allowed
to train with the senior team as well as playing against the senior team.
To register for Next Released Dates Register here with Tony's Soccer School
to get every clubs football trials when released
Please note that we will not be accepting football CVs/DVDs as a way to book on to the trials. We will discard any that are sent in.
Read more at http://www.barnetfc.com/team/Trials.aspx#VjI4ZLBcjcS1py19.99
The Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy is a programme that is FREE of charge for all players across the different age-groups. We currently have five age-groups namely our under-13, under-15, under-17, under-19 and the reserve team.
Our responsibility as a football club is to set and maintain a standard of excellence at the training rounds.
We expect extremely high standards of our players, and we expect them to understand that their development starts every day that they walk through the gates of the KC Village.
The KC development houses some of its players at the state of the art KC Village in Naturena where players are under the tutelage of house fathers and mothers.
The academy team does not hold open trials as most of our players are scouted around the country, and then invited for further assessment.
Trials/Assessments
Kindly be informed that Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development Academy will have a player assessment in February 2019, for players between the ages of 11 years & 17 years ONLY.
PLEASE NOTE THAT THE FIRST GROUP OF TRIALISTS HAS ALREADY BEEN SELECTED.
For more information e-mail us:
The academy operates five full time teams, within the structure:
1.Under-13 2.Under-15 3.Under-17 4.Under-19 5. Reserve Team
Academy players train 3- 5 days a week, with one game per week. The focus of the players development is the training that occurs throughout the week, as they train to develop as players, not in preparation for their next game. KC players train in training groups. Training groups are not organized by the year of birth, but by the players’ needs and skills level.
The leagues that the development teams participate in are the SAFA Gauteng Development League – GDL, SAFA Johannesburg – SAB League and the MultiChoice Diski Challenge – MDC.
Head of Youth Development: Sundra Govinder
Development Coaches: Arthur Zwane, Sundra Govinder, Ace Khuse, Jimmy Jambo, Tshidiso Letsholonyane
Development goalkeeper coach: Rory Minnaar
Logistics: Ryder Mofokeng
Scouting Department: Technical members
Sport scientists: Tinus van Rensberg, Jamie Schultz, Leroy Fischer
Video analyst: Vaughan Coetzee
Education and Child Welfare Coordinator: Ntsie Maphike
Contact E-mail: