South African clubs eye GFA youngsters

Dumisani Ncube | Wednesday January 7, 2015 13:45

GFA managing director, Khumo Kenalemang told Mmegi Sport that Jacaranda Callies, a team in the South African second division has shown interest in signing some of the players from the academy.

He said that other teams in the division has also inquired about youngsters in the academy and soon, there may be GFA players moving to South Africa.

He said the academy has created relations with teams in South Africa and that is why they are hopeful that the players will cross over to the neighbouring country.

“We normally play with their junior teams and we also bench mark from them,” he explained.

The Gaborone academy has produced a number of players for the national team’s development sides. Some of the players were part of the national team that represented the country during the 2014 Africa Youth Games last year. The likes of Emmanuel Machinya who plays for local Premier League side, Notwane came from the institution.

Kenalemang said they are in talks with Notwane, which has shown interest in signing more players from the academy. “Notwane has approached us and they would like to look at five of our players.

We have already agreed on a loan deal,” he said. He believes that Botswana will benefit a lot from the five-year-old academy. He said that at the end of this season, GFA would take some players to Asia and Europe for trials. The academy has players of between six years to 18 years.

GFA has produced players such as Thabang Bojosi, Obakeng Ramotlhwa, Lefika Fane and Ocean Lottering who have represented the country at junior levels. The academy has development coaches such as Rutherford Balingi and Tshepho Ikgopeleng.