The FNB Varsity Football tournament’s second week has been exciting and has provided the spectators with a great deal of entertainment as the quality of football has unquestionably met and surpassed expectations.
Several talented footballers were able to secure their first professional football contracts in the highest division of South African football thanks to FNB Varsity Football. As anticipated, the players who were chosen to compete for their universities in the Varsity Football competition in 2022 are undoubtedly dreaming big, as they are one step away from being recognised by South African professional teams.
This week, we had the opportunity to interview Thabang Masilela, the founding CEO of the Imvuselelo Sports Organization, who has provided a stage for several Tembisa football stars to display their skills in his local competitions. The sports organization also plans to scout and represent players with their contracts at professional contracts.
“Thank you for having this opportunity to engage with an organisation that is what we are all about which is giving these unknown stars a platform to be recognised by these professional teams,” Masilela told Varsity Football.
The founding CEO shared that he has seen few Red Army starlets, who can play at a professional level.
“I genuinely believe in rising stars, and I watched the opening contest between TUT and the defending champion University of Johannesburg (UJ),” he explained.
“We all know that this sport, which we all love so much, is a game of consistency rather than memories, so I must admit that I have seen maybe one or two players who are looking sharp.
“But if I were to comment from my experience point of view, I think it’s still too early to highlight those individuals.”
The Tembisa-born entrepreneur continued by emphasizing that he will assess the players after the completion of the tournament when he will determine whether they truly possess what it takes to follow their compatriots, TS Galaxy vice-captain Given Msimango, into the professional level.
“Before identifying these stars who caught my eye from TUT, I want to make sure that I give them a chance to compete in the entire tournament. Although their second-round performances were less than impressive, you could still tell that they had the talent and the potential,” concluded Mr Masilela.
TUT will face seventh-placed UKZN on 4 August 2022 at Howard College Rugby Stadium at 18:30 in the third round of the 2022 FNB Varsity Football.
You can get information on how to get tickets here.
By Lakhe Thwala.
