Staff Writer. Images: Supplied
It’s every young footballer’s dream to be in the books of Kaizer Chiefs – the most supported football club in the whole of Southern Africa – and for Cape Town rising star Yaseen Mannies, that dream came true…just by chance.
Mannies hails from Valhalla Park, and visited Johannesburg with his coach to trial at two different institutions. The Kaizer Chiefs Academy was not one of them. But when the opportunity presented itself, the gifted former Valhalla United mid-cum-striker grabbed it with both hands, and the scouts were more than impressed.
“My move to Kaizer Chief Youth Academy came as a surprise and I couldn’t say no when the opportunity came,” Mannies recalls. “We visited Joburg with my coach, Coach Ash, and we weren’t supposed to end up trialing at KC Academy. We were on our way to two different assessments and mine came as a surprise as I said with my two other teammates that went to Stars of Africa Academy.”
Mannies may only be fourteen, but he’s been a football fanatic for years. He joined Valhalla United in the Northerns LFA from a young age and played for the side until his move to Jozi, winning a couple of individual accolades for the club and the LFA.
Having seen Mannies grow from the age of five, Valhalla United coach Ashley Olivier is overjoyed about the young man’s achievements, and he’s not the only one: the club and the community have been very supportive of Mannies’ dream.
“It’s the best feeling ever to have been alongside Yaseen, seeing him grow and evolve into one of the best Youth players in our community, Northerns LFA, and even in Cape Town,” Coach Olivier says.
After spending a month in the academy, the former Montevideo Primary School learner returned home recently before flying back to Jozi to re-join his new teammates on Tuesday.
“Since day one I was treated very well and also received well from my coach Jimmy Jambo, the technical team and also all the players,” he says. “The training facilities for me are by far a blessing because from where I come from we do not have the fully equipped and functional facilities. But we did our best at Valhalla United FC in everything we do – and it’s paid off.”
Rising Star: Looking To The Future
With Chiefs among the top clubs on the African continent, and possibly the most sought-after by talented young footballers, it’s not exactly easy to land into their books. So what makes the 14-year-old Mannies so special?
“I am just a normal person,” he says. “I love food, family, spending quality time with friends – and always playing soccer. I think it’s more my passion as a youth footballer that makes me do my best.”
Coach Ash doesn’t dispute that passion, but he has a different view.
“From a coaching perspective, Yaseen has been very advanced at his age and has represented Valhalla United FC from the age of 5 to 13 years old. He played u14, u16 and u18, winning in all divisions, and also being the youngest player in the Coke cup scoring goals in the competition.”
Mannies’ accomplishments aren’t exactly a surprise, he says.
“Even though Cape Town scouts never noticed him, we knew he would make it somewhere one day. Yaseen is just special – and any coach would want him to play in their team. He is cool, calm and collected, and does the job being coachable.”
Mannies’ dream is to push and work hard and make his debut in the MDC team of Amakhosi, as Chiefs are affectionately called, by the age of 16 (if possible).
Meanwhile, Mannies is enjoying every moment in his new home away from home
“My first month so far at Kaizer Chief is already something amazing,” he says. “I can only thank my coach and my parents for helping me get on this and for all the important things we had to do for me to get here.”
For the fellow young people, Mannies have some encouraging words.
“Everyone deserves a chance in life – but you have to work hard for what you want. Always have a positive mindset and stay away from the negative things.”
