Goalies empowered

The Oliver Kahn safe hub in Gugulethu hosted a two day Train N’ Fight challenge for up and coming goalkeepers from townships around Cape Town.

The challenge was meant to give young goalkeepers between the ages of 12 and 17 years an opportunity to train in a professional environment with highly acclaimed coaches.

Likhona Mrawuli(16), a goalkeeper with Girls Empire F.C in Khayelitsha, said the two days she spent at the facility helped her a lot.

She said she would love to represent South African one day.

Sindisa Ngwenduna(16) from Gugulethu said he started as a goalkeeping at the age of 10 years.

He said because he lacked pace and liked holding the ball, he decided to take on goalkeeping.

“I enjoyed the two days here. I learnt the basics of goalkeeping which will help me in future,” he said.

He said he hoped to take the lessons he learnt to help better his team Valencia F.C. The co-founder of Goal Play, Moritz Mattes, said they want to develop goalkeepers and not just to give them gloves, but the experience.

He said they want to teach young goalkeepers that they are not just shot stoppers, but players as well.