Pitso Mosimane: “The development of football must be a combination of academics and the sport itself”
The sports festival organised by the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools (PMSS) is underway at Curro Meridian Cosmo City, and runs from Friday, 7 June, to Saturday, 8 June.
The u11 boys and girls, and u13 boys and u13 girls completed their competitions on Friday. The u15 boys’ and girls’ finals were scheduled for Saturday.
Curro Meridian Cosmo City is one of the first to adopt the Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools’ programme, with the renowned coach and the PMSS team present to witness the development of grassroots football skills.
On Friday, boys and girls, between the ages of 8 and 13, gathered to showcase their football abilities. Throughout the day, they enthusiastically cheered each other on, with some mesmerizing with their distinct skills on the playing grounds.
Nooitgedacht defeated Cosmo City 2-0 in the u11 girls’ final, while Sweet Valley laid claim to the u11 boys’ title with a 2-1 win over Cosmo City.
In the u13 boys’ final, Nooitgedacht beat Meridian Cosmo 1-0, while the girls’ honours went to Cosmo City Junior, who stormed to a 4-1 win over Nooitgedacht.
Coach Pitso Mosimane shared his thoughts about the partnership between PMSS and Curro Meridian Cosmo City: “The Pitso Mosimane Sports Soccer Schools is associated with the Pitso Mosimane Foundation, and our focus is on collaborating with schools,” he said.
He explained that the reason behind this approach is because not all children engage in football through clubs, but all children who play football are enrolled in school.
Schools have facilities and are a safe environment for children, he said. “Our objective is to work with every individual within the school system, aiming to nurture football skills from an early age, starting as early as seven-years-old”, he stated.
Why is it so important to start at the grassroots level?
“The challenge we have in South African football [is] we start the program in the middle. This is exactly like the academics in the school, so, let’s say you start school at grade 4 or 5, if you start at that level you will struggle, because you have no foundation. Hence, you need the development fundamentals. You need to start at the foundation.
“How many teams in South Africa, senior teams, don’t have a youth team? So, where are you getting the players from? It means you get them from somewhere else, but don’t be surprised when you get those players, and they have different habits.”
“Empowering the children”
Mosimane said young people are the future of the country and he made reference to the late Nelson Mandela, who always believed in the youth as the rock on which the future is built, and who promoted education as the key to liberation.
“You can never separate the two, football and academics. As a player you have your football talent and an academic background.”
He emphasised that having both not only places one in a better position in society post-retirement as a professional footballer, but they also provide one with a backup plan should a career as a player not work out.
He said Percy Tau was an excellent example. Tau, whom he coached at Mamelodi Sundowns, is a CAF Champions League winner, and he also holds a BCom degree from the University of South Africa (UNISA).
He currently plays for the Egyptian giants, Al Ahly, and has won numerous titles in South Africa, Egypt, and Europe, where he played for Club Brugge in Belgium.
Mosimane said that if players could follow that kind of example and receive guidance at a younger age, they stand a better chance to be become greater men and women tomorrow.
“That is why we work with schools. The clubs which these children play for also benefit. We also empower coaches. We have CAF and SAFA coaches contributing to the growth and the goal we have set for ourselves to develop young kids.
The Future for the PMSS
“We are growing. There are about 12 schools now, 30 coaches, and my dream is to do this in the townships, as well,” Mosimane said.
“That’s where the talent is. I come from the township. We need to nurture the talent in our townships and continue to offer life skills – how to be a team member – and discipline, while we ensure that we keep our young children as student athletes.”
The PMSS also plays an important role in addressing a significant and overlooked aspect of women’s development in South Africa. Despite the evident talent at the national level, women’s football in the country has yet to realise its full potential.
While the SASOL League, Hollywoodbets Super League, and the Gauteng Women’s Development League feed into the national teams, such as Banyana Banyana (SA national women’s team) and Bantwana (SA u17), they lack a solid foundation. This is where the PMMS steps in, starting as early as the u7 age group, to promote and showcase women’s football.
RESULTS
3rd and 4th Playoffs
u11 Girls: Meridian Cosmo 2-0 Sweet Valley
u11 Boys: Meridian Cosmo 0-1 Nooitgedacht
u13 Girls: Sweet Valley 0-2 Cosmo City Junior
u13 Boys: Sweet Valley 0 (0)- 0 (2) Meridian Cosmo
Finals
u11 Girls: Nooitgedacht 2-0 Cosmo City Junior
u11 Boys: Cosmo City Junior 1-2 Sweet Valley
u13 Girls: Meridian Cosmo 0-1 Nooitgedacht
u13 Boys: Nooitgedacht 1-4 Cosmo City Junior
