After months of training and preparation, the 2015 Nedbank Ke Yona Team was finally unveiled on Tuesday, 11 August at the Nedbank Headquarters in Johannesburg. The final 18 – member squad to take on the current Nedbank Cup Champions have been handpicked amongst thousands of aspiring footballers between the ages of 18 and 25 in South Africa, by the experienced quartet of Shakes Mashaba, Owen Da Gama, Khabo Zondo and Mike Mangena.
The 2015 edition of South Africa’s largest football talent search attracted more than 40 000 total entries and got underway earlier this year in Mpumalanga, Free State, Eastern Cape, Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Each province saw aspiring footballers putting up their best performances that gave the four Ke Yona selectors tough selection choices. From the six provinces, a total of 48 players were selected and invited to an intense bootcamp at the High Performance Centre in Pretoria where they were trained and conditioned by the best sports scientists while working closely with the four Ke Yona coaches.
The Nedbank Ke Yona Team boot camps exposed the players to far more than just on the field training as the boys received a well-rounded experience across various aspects of life including financial education and other life skills training from the best professionals, to help them ‘Make The Things That Really Matter Happen’ for them.
With the Ke Yona Team search currently in its third edition, it has proven to be a life changing initiative for many aspiring footballers who have since gone on to make their football dreams happen thanks to Nedbank. Players such as Sydney Masana (Free State Stars), Maphosa Modiba (Mpumalanga Black Aces & SA U20) and Khanya Gwala (Orlando Pirates) are some of the examples of how Nedbank continues to make a meaningful difference in the various communities that it serves.
Speaking at the team reveal, Nedbank’s Group Executive for Marketing, Communications and Corporate Affairs, Thulani Sibeko wished the selected squad the best of luck as they enter into a new phase of their journey to becoming professional footballers.
“We are proud to make the things that really matter happen for these young men who have taken one step closer of playing professional football. As a bank for all, we pride ourselves in enabling people from all walks of life to change their lives for the better and making something of themselves. Today is testimony that through hard work, determination and partnering with Nedbank, dreams can turn into reality. We therefore wish the 2015 Nedbank Ke Yona Team the best of luck against Mamelodi Sundowns as they continue in their quest to becoming household names in South African football,” said Sibeko.
The Ke Yona Team will return to the High Performance Centre in Pretoria on 27 August for their final preparations to their highly anticipated match against Mamelodi Sundowns at the Lucas ‘Masterpieces’ Moripe Stadium in Atteridgeville, Pretoria on Sunday, 6 September.
In the quest to continue adding value to the Nedbank Ke Yona Team players, the bank has included yet another great innovation to the campaign in partnership with the PSL. Following the conclusion of the game against Mamelodi Sundowns 16 of the players will be drafted by the 16 PSL teams with an opportunity to try out at the club. More details of this exciting initiative will be shared after the match in September.
To follow the progress of the players becoming household names catch the show on SABC1; airing Sundays at 14:00 pm. For more information on the Ke Yona Team Search visit the Nedbank Cup Website on: http://www.nedbankcup.co.za/home and follow the conversation on twitter https://twitter.com/nedbanksport and facebook https://www.facebook.com/nedbanksport
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