Ville Academy awards players across five categories
28 Nov 2023
Oodi-based Ville Football Academy has awarded players across five categories depending on their strengths and capabilities.
The event was held in Oodi on Saturday and the team’s coach, Franklin Mosiane said they were awarding the best striker, most disciplined, best defender, best midfielder and most improved players.
Mosiane said the team has grown since its inception in 2019 when they observed that children were roaming around the village and needed something to keep them pre-occupied.
He also said they took advantage of the state of public schools, where there were no extra curricula activities and they decided to group boys into the various age groups.
Mosiane said they have about 70 registered players and depend on parents and the community for financial support.
He said the coaches are volunteers and the balls are acquired through parents’ contributions.
Mosiane said the team had one ball in 2019 when they started and the different age-based teams had to exchange the jerseys and pants.
He lamented lack of parents’ morale support for the team, adding that dealing with children is a challenge.
Mosiane said they also introduced the Under-21 team that has been playing tournaments against other teams in the Gaborone Region.
He further said FIFA has stringent child protection and safe guarding guidelines, which they had to adhere to as children are abducted and abused.
The coach said FIFA guidelines dictated that a player must touch the ball about 2 500 times.
Under-21 Ville Football Academy defender, Rodrick Maphane said he joined the academy in March 2023.
He said he is poised to go for trials in Spain and they are still waiting for Spanish scouts. ENDS
Source : BOPA
Author : Gontle Merafhe
Location : GABORONE
Event : Awards
Date : 28 Nov 2023