The Future Care Sports Academy, which was only established in May this year, has already attracted more than 400 young and aspiring future sports stars from all over the district. Based at the affluent and fast developing village of Makonde, the young stars are using the yet to be officially opened sports facilities at Makonde Stadium.
The academy was established by former Vhembe sportsmen Freddy Silima, Hulisani Mabasa, Norman Malume, and Meshack Muvhango.
According to the head of development and co-ordinating coach of the academy, Mr Mulalo Morris Netshitungulu, the youngsters participate in different sporting codes such as soccer, netball, athletics, volleyball, and basketball, to mention but a few. He said that, even though they did not have a sponsor at the moment, the officials were using their own funds to support the academy in terms of transport, sports kits for the different sporting codes, training facilities, and coaches. "Running a sports academy is very expensive. We have players from all over the district, but especially from the Thulamela Municipality. We transport them to and from training three times a week and it is not easy."
He said they had teams from U/15 up to U/21 in all the different sporting codes.
When asked whether they had quality coaches in all the sporting codes, he said he had managed to recruit the best coaches they could afford. "We have the best there is in this area at the moment. We have been training these kids for only three months, but we have already received offers from local teams for the services of at least three youngsters. Believe you me, a 17-year-old teenager is wanted by a team from the Motsepe Foundation," he said.