The try-out venues for the seventh edition of the Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search
(KYTS) were officially announced on Tuesday.
Organisers said the Northern Cape will be a new destination when the pursuit for the next football sensation begins next month.
Galeshewe Stadium in Kimberley will hold trials on May 11 in an added hunt for the next Aubrey Modiba (Bafana Bafana and SuperSport United), Bongani Sam (SA Under-23 Olympic qualifying squad call-up and Bloemfontein Celtic) and Ricardo Versuur (Highlands Park).
The search will go to North End Stadium in East London (April 27), Thohoyandou Stadium in Limpopo (May 2), Dr Petros Molemela (May 12), Harry Gwala Stadium in Pietermaritzburg (May 25), and Ikamva in Cape Town (June 1).
The scouts will descend on Rand Stadium in Gauteng on June 8 during the last of the try-out dates where young footballers are given the chance to showcase their skills in the hope of following their dreams.
Tutu Ntuli, Sponsorship Manager: Football Properties at Nedbank said: “Nedbank invests in the development of our clients’ financial future. We are also long-time investors in the future of football in South Africa through the Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search. The search however is not only about giving footballers the chance to follow their dreams, we also strive to uplift players and their communities through financial education.”
Ntuli also noted, “I urge all aspiring footballers to register for the coming tryouts and wish them the best of luck. We can’t wait to see what talent is unearthed in 2019.”
Robert Sebastian, who coached NC Professionals from the Northern Cape in this year’s Nedbank Cup Last 32 stages, also welcomed the opportunity of finding unpolished football diamonds in the province.
“We have a lot of excellent players in the province, but many have to move away to realise their dreams of becoming a professional footballer because the opportunities are slim in the Northern Cape.
“I can assure you that there are a lot of quality players in this area. It is just about them getting the opportunity to show what they can do. It is wonderful to see that Nedbank is giving local players this chance through the Nedbank Ke Yona Team Search. I urge them to grab it with both hands,” he added.
Following the KYTS try-outs, 48 players are chosen to attend a series of boot camps where the squad is whittled down to a final squad of 18 players.
The KYTS team will then play a fixture against the reigning Nedbank Cup champions and train for a month with a PSL club, giving them the opportunity to prove their ability at the highest level.
Those hoping to join the class of 2019 and between the ages of 18 and 23 can register for the KYTS try-outs using *120*KEYONA# USSID.
