Most young footballers dream of going professional but not all make it – and this goal is closer than ever before by the down-to-earth Casely Watson when he signed for Cape Town Spurs.
Watson has signed for Spurs’ ABC Motsepe League team, from the Regional Third Division team Woodlands United.
This rise from the ashes of Mitchells Plain was not an easy one, and the Woodlands-born Watson’s football journey has been complicated.
“My football journey started when I was 13 – I previously played cricket,” he recalls. “I started with Woodlands United, and stayed there for about four years. The opportunity to play for Santos u17 came about and I moved on to them for one season where I competed in the Engen Knockout (sadly, we ended sixteenth that year). From there I went on to Old Mutual, and after a few months I was recruited by Bidvest Wits in Joburg.”
His time there wasn’t always happy, though – and after a few months, he decided to come back to Cape Town, ending up at Old Mutual again and competing in the Bayhill Premier Cup.
“This time we lost in the semi-final against Glendene. I actually scored in that semi and after Bayhill I moved to Ajax Cape Town.”
Then he faced his greatest challenge yet: he lost his father due to the collapsing of his lungs. And in that same period Casely contracted pneumonia.
“I spent a season at Ikamva, but it was a rough year for me. I was released by Ajax Cape Town and after recovering I was recruited by Cape Town City for the Diski team. The coach back then was Craig Rosslee and he played me at Right Back and I’m a Centre Back. The position didn’t work for me because I was struggling with my breathing and it wasn’t working for me.
“So I left Cape Town City and went to Woodlands United to get my fitness back. After this I went DnG Orient for half a season but returned back to Woodlands. In my time there I was approached by Goal 50 in Heideveld to play in their SAB team. Thereafter again returned home to Woodlands, won promotion to the SAB league and won the Coke Cup. Played two seasons with Woodlands in the SAB and now I’ve been recruited by Cape Town Spurs.”
Casely’s story could have been much different. He had more than one excuse to give up but yet he continued to push on and search for more opportunities. But his return to Ikamva, albeit under a new name, where he was released, speaks of a young man who acknowledges his challenges, but holds no grudges.
“Coming back to Cape Town Spurs is a second chance for me to showcase my talent – to show teams like Old Mutual, Wits, Santos and Ajax that I could play this game, and that I have talent.”
Now Casely is looking to the future – a future that holds so much promise.
“The first time around it didn’t work out – but it didn’t work out for me because of me falling ill. Now I have another chance to show what I can do and I’ll try my best to achieve what is set out.”
