DURBAN U19 TOURNAMENT – WHERE STARS ARE TRULY BORN!

 The recent performances of South African junior internationals Thabo Cele and Sandile Mthethwa at the 2017 FIFA Under-20 World Cup in South Korea are testimony to the power of the Durban U19 International Football Tournament.  

 This year’s event will be staged from 27 July to 5 August in Durban and will once again feature some of the brightest young talents in global football as teams from Africa, South America and Europe unite in a festival of football.

The tournament proved to be a launching-pad for Cele and Mthethwa, who both turned out for the KwaZulu-Natal Academy side, where their talent was spotted and their careers set on the path to success.

Cele recently signed a five-year contract with Portuguese giants Benfica for the 2017/18 season, having impressed with lower league side Real Massamá SC.  He was a marvel to watch at the Under 20 FIFA World Cup, starting all three matches for South Africa and providing an excellent link between the attack and the defence.

“Playing at the World Cup was a dream come true and has motivated me to achieve even greater things in the future,” Cele says. “I am at such an important stage of my career and having the opportunity to showcase my talent and skills to people from all around the world was very exciting.”

Cele played for the KwaZulu-Natal Academy at the 2015 Durban U19 International Football Tournament and believes that the time he spent with the team has helped to mould him into the player he has become.

“I learned so much at the academy and I will forever be grateful for the role it has played in my career. The coaches really believed in me and I want to repay that faith by going on to make something significant of my career.  I have played against future international players in the Durban U19 International Football Tournament, moved to Benfica and then played at U20 World Cup level. However, for me the real hard work starts now. I don’t feel like I have achieved anything significant as yet, I still want to do so much more.” Cele added.
                                                                                                                       

Mthethwa is currently in the books of Orlando Pirates and played in the inaugural 2014 Durban U19 International Football Tournament.  He also had the opportunity to go to Portugal after impressing in that leg of the tournament, but instead opted to stay in South Africa and develop his career.

Mthethwa declares that it has been an honour to play for South Africa in South Korea: “It has always been my dream to represent my country since I was still playing in the SAB League. All this happened by the grace of God, hard work and the support from my family.”

Neither Cele nor Mthethwa will be at the Durban U19 International Football Tournament this year, but there will be plenty of other top youngsters to watch out for.

Speaking ahead of the Tournament, KZN Academy Head Coach, Smart Ndlovu promises that the Academy will unleash other “Stars” come 27 July. “We have been working very hard to identify and prepare quality players who are likely to follow in the footsteps of Thabo Cele. His performances on the international stage have inspired the next generation of Academy players who are eager to face Benfica in the Opening match of the Tournament and prove themselves worthy by performing just as well, if not better.”

Group A is made up of the KwaZulu-Natal Academy, provincial rivals Maritzburg United, Portuguese side Benfica and Brazilian outfit Flamengo.

Group B will see the South African Under-19 side take on ASEC Mimosas from Ivory Coast, Spanish side Deportivo de la Coruna and FC Midtjylland from Denmark.

Group A will this year be staged at the King Zwelithini Stadium in Umlazi, while Group B will be played at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont. The magnificent Moses Mabhida Stadium, will host the semi-finals.  Meanwhile, the decider and third-place play-offs move back to King Zwelithini.  

Brazilian side Santos were the inaugural winners in 2014, with English club Arsenal claiming the next two titles in 2015 and 2016.