Dayyan Fudu’s Spanish trial showcases talent and dedication
Dayyan Fudu, born in 2008, plays for Westville Boys’ High School and turns out in club football for the KZN Academy. In 2025, he has revealed himself to be one of the most outstanding talents on the schools’ scene.
The Westville star is a centre forward, also able to play either lefto or right-wing.
He was a key contributor to Westville Boys’ High winning the Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association (KZNHSFA) Coastal A-League title in June.
The Chairperson of the KNHSFA, who also serves as the Director of Football at Westville, Dan Haswell, has characterised Fudu as an outstanding young talent and diligent worker, who is a prolific goal scorer.
The sharpshooter was the Coastal A-League’s top goal scorer, netting nine times, even though he was absent from the final, which went to a penalty shootout.
He also made an impact at the Kloof High School National Football Tournament at the end of June, where he scored 11 goals, once again finishing as the event’s top goal scorer, which earned him a place in the team of the tournament.
Fudu’s been in sensational form. In 15 matches this season, he has slotted a whopping 23 goals and added three assists for good measure.
With the KZN Academy, where he competes in the Durban Central Local Football Association (DCLFA) in the SAFA eThekwini Regional League, he has made 16 appearances this season, scoring 15 goals while also providing five assists.
Those remarkable statistics are indicative of the major steps his game has taken since 2024.
Last year, while playing 18 times for the u17 and u19 teams of the KZN Academy, he scored only twice while providing 12 assists.
In 2024, he made 13 first team appearances for Westville, scoring 11 times and making four assists.
What is particularly impressive about his outstanding statistics this year is the fact that both the DCLFA and schools’ football seasons are ongoing. Fudu is sure to boost his goal count considerably.
In light of his exceptional performances in both school football and with the KZN Academy, Fudu received an incredible opportunity to attend trials and assessments at Levante UD Academy in Spain.
He quickly made a strong impression abroad, where he featured in three friendlies and delivered three goals and two assists while also picking up a player of the match award.
Following Fudu’s recent journey to Spain, SuperSport Schools Plus spoke with Junero Mdlongwa, the founder of NeroNoLimit Football Agency, an agency collaborating with FIFA Licensed agents, UEFA coaches, and clubs in La Liga, Spain’s top league. The agency focuses on helping players from Africa to access elite football opportunities in Spain and was behind Fudu’s trip to Spain.
Mdlongwa, an old boy of Crawford North Coast, said that he, like Fudu, used to receive calls for District Tournaments every single year. After finishing matric, he moved to the United Kingdom to play football, but also for study opportunities.
In an exclusive discussion with SuperSport Schools Plus, Mdlongwa, spoke of Fudu’s remarkable talent, commending his technical abilities and tactical insight, and advocated for his inclusion in South Africa’s national development teams, arguing that a player of his calibre deserves such an opportunity.
Fudu is reserved, respectful and humble, said Mdlongwa, and he is also willing to be coached, which is commendable given his natural talent for the game.
Rating Fudu’s talent, Mdlongwa said that he would easily give him a 10 out 10 rating.
“I think Dayyan is of the best undiscovered talents in South Africa right now, and that can be quoted,” he said.
“I have not seen a young striker with his ability, and especially with that kind of physicality.
“Usually, players who are that tall and strong, they don’t know how to move the way that he does. They don’t have the speed that he has. They don’t have the technique that he has,” he explained.
Another advantage that Fudu possesses is his ability to score with both feet. He can hurt the opposition in many ways, Mdongwa said: “He can score using his right foot, he can score with his head, he can convert free kicks, he can take penalties, and he possesses dribbling skills. Personally, it has been some time since I have witnessed a striker of that calibre emerging from South Africa.”
After his trial in Spain, Fudu began training with the DDC Team of Durban City FC, and, as he had with the coaches at Levante, he impressed the Durban City coaches. On Monday, he signed a contract with the club.
The Westville Boys’ High striker is also preparing to return to the Levante UD Academy. Thanks to his earlier impressive two-week assessment and trial, he’ll be training with the u19 Levante UD team.
Dayyan Fudu’s Profile
Bio
Date of Birth – 07/02/2008
Height – 5’11 ft (179 cm)
Weight – 140 lbs (69 kg)
Playing foot – Right and Left
Shooting/Crossing Foot – Right
Position – Centre Forward (CF), Right and Left Wing
Career
2025 – KZN Academy – DCLFA Premier, SAFA eThekwini Regional League
Appearances: 16
Goals: 15 goals
Assists: 5
– Westville Boys’ High School – u19 (first team)
Appearances: 15
Goals: 23
Assists: 3
2024 – KZN Academy, DCFLA, u17 and u19
Appearances: 18
Goals: 2
Assists: 12
– Westville Boys’ High School
Appearances: 13
Goals: 11
Assists: 4
2023 – KZN Academy, DCLFA u15
Appearances: 8
Goals: 3
Assists: 0
– Westville Boys’ High School
Appearances: 11
Goals: 13
Assists: 4
2022 – KZN Academy, DCLFA u15
Appearances: 42
Goals: 36
Assists: 4
In 2022, Fudu also made it the KZN u15 Provincial Team. He was the captain and top goal scorer.
– Westville Boys’ High School
Appearances: 22
Goals: 28
Assists: 4
u14 Top Goal scorer and made the u14 KZN Provincial Team
2021 – KZN Academy, DCFLA u13
Appearances: 15
Goals: 13
2019 – KZN Academy, DCFLA u11
Appearances: 22
Goals: 21
u11 Top Goal scorer
Experience
2025 – Trials – Levante Academy UD (Spain)
Match Appearances/Friendly Matches: 3
Goals: 3
Assists: 2
– KZN Academy u18 – Engen Cup Provincial (KZN)
Appearances: 3
Goals: 1
– Westville Boys’ High Schools – Kloof High School National Football Tournament
Appearances: 6
Goals: 11
Assists: 3
Accolades: Top Goal scorer and Team of the Tournament member
– Mancosa KwaZulu-Natal High Schools Football Association, Coastal A-League
Appearances: 7
Goals: 9
Assists: 3
Accolades: Top Goal scorer
2024 – KZN Academy u18, Engen Cup
Appearances; 4
Goals: 1
Assists: 3
2023 – SAFA u15 National Tournament
Appearances: 3
Goals: 1
Accolades: SAFA National u15 Team Call for training squad
– KZN High School u15 Euro Tour (Germany and Netherlands)
Appearances: 4
Goals: 3
Assists: 5
– KZN High School Howick Cup
Appearances: 4
Goals: 4
Assists: 1
Accolades: Title winner
2022 – KaapStadt – Tournament u14 runner-up
Appearances: 6
Goals: 3
Assists: 1
u14 Captain
2019 – KaapStadt – Tournament u12 runner-up
Appearances: 6
Goals: 1
Assists: 1
