RESA Academy still going strong after 25 years
For more than 25 years, Remember Elites Sports Academy (RESA) has been producing elite footballers in South Africa.
You can go as far as the late 90s, Remember Elites Sports Academy formerly known as the Remember Football Club has been producing gems of footballers and writing its name in the history books of South African Football Development.
In 1997, they made history by becoming the first team to win the Nike Premier Cup in South Africa. In 1998 they won it again and went to represent South Africa in France, in the same year France hosted the World Cup. In 1999 for the 3rd consecutive time, RESA won the Nike Premier Cup and went to represent SA in Spain.
Even though the academy has gone through enormous struggles over the years from financial constraints, with their transport system; functioning under inadequate structures they have remained as one of the best academies in SA.
The likes of Calvin Kadi who last played for Bidvest Wits, Nhlanhla Shabalala, General Secretary of SAFA all came through the ranks of the RESA (Academy). The list is endless: Thabang Monare, Orlando Pirates Midfielder, Mduduzi ‘Mdu’ Mdantsane, attacking player for Cape Town City, Sphiwe Mahlangu, TS Galaxy player, Lwandile Mabuya, Richards Bay FC and many more who have the fortune to played professional football, locally and overseas came through the ranks of RESA (academy).
In its first year of participation in the Gauteng Development League, RESA finished 3rd on B-Stream while in 2nd year they won it top convincingly with 30 points difference.
Looking at the depth of the current squad, Xolani Mathumbo said that they are proud of the players they have who continue to fight for the academy at their best will. Last season they had one of their u17 boys called up to the AC Milan technical centre. “The academy has been fortunate to move players and that is one of the things we take pride in as RESA family, currently we do have a boy that is being under the assessment of Mamelodi Sundowns and we can only wish the best for the boy”
The academy also became the first to partner with the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture to sustain the facilities and encourage the development of football in the region.
The academy continues its growth with its main goal to offer the best sports programmes to young, talented sportsmen and women in and around the Gauteng region.
