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'Chippa' opens academy

Johannesburg - Philemon ‘Chippa’ Masinga has revealed his excitement about having a new North West sports academy named after him, and added that he cannot wait to get the programme up and running.

The Phil Masinga Sports Academy is composed of former professional soccer players now involved in coaching, refereeing and rehabilitation programmes.

Mark Fish, Fabian McCarthy, Jabu Mahlangu, Pollen Ndlanya, Thabang Molefe, Linda Buthelezi, Mark Williams and Eric September are among the stars of the game who will assist in nurturing the talent of future stars.

The academy will be facilitating and coordinating life skills, capacity building for coaches, administrators and technical officials, competition opportunities and other logistical support.

Masinga, the former Bafana Bafana striker, who will be famously remembered for his goal against the Congo that ensured South Africa a place in their first World Cup in 1998 explained that he saw the academy as a chance to give back to the community.

Masinga said: “I feel it is time to share what I know with these young people. I believe the province has the potential to produce quality soccer players.”

Hlomane Chauke, North West MEC for sport, said the academy was an important contribution to building high-performance soccer stars in the province.

He added that they were committed to building the province as a home of competitive sport and have identified soccer as one of the priority sporting codes to support.

Department of sports, arts and culture head, Desiree Tlhoaele, added: “There is so much talent going to waste out there. The Phil Masinga Sports Academy is a unique association of the greatest living sporting legends who share a belief in the power of sport to break down barriers, bring people together and to improve the lives of the young people of the province. It will encourage learners to train and practice harder as they seek to emulate their heroes.”
 
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