"There is an urgent need to start paying more attention to development"
THE South African soccer family must channel more resources into development to stop Bafana Bafana and other national teams from being a laughing stock.
"That is the only way for us to go if we are serious about becoming one of the giants of African and global soccer again," said Orlando Pirates defender Happy Jele.
He has urged the people of Mpumalanga to support the SAB Under-21 National Championships, which gets under way today in KaNyamazane and surrounding areas.
Jele is a graduate of the SAB Regional League after playing for Walter Stars before he was signed by Pirates.
The national championships will feature all nine provinces and a team from University Sport South Africa.
"There is an urgent need to start paying more attention to development," said Jele.
"We won't be able to produce quality players for Bafana Bafana and other national teams if development is neglected. South Africa has talent in abundance but we are not doing enough to develop it.
"We need to invest more resources into the developmental leagues."
SA Breweries chief Vincent Maphai said they were proud to see more graduates of the Regional League in the professional ranks.
"We are delighted to see graduates of our league like Happy Jele, Lucky Lekgwathi, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Darren Keet, Tlou Molekwane, Ayanda Dlamini, Andile Jali and many others doing so well."
We squander our talent: Jele
"There is an urgent need to start paying more attention to development"
THE South African soccer family must channel more resources into development to stop Bafana Bafana and other national teams from being a laughing stock.
"That is the only way for us to go if we are serious about becoming one of the giants of African and global soccer again," said Orlando Pirates defender Happy Jele.
He has urged the people of Mpumalanga to support the SAB Under-21 National Championships, which gets under way today in KaNyamazane and surrounding areas.
Jele is a graduate of the SAB Regional League after playing for Walter Stars before he was signed by Pirates.
The national championships will feature all nine provinces and a team from University Sport South Africa.
"There is an urgent need to start paying more attention to development," said Jele.
"We won't be able to produce quality players for Bafana Bafana and other national teams if development is neglected. South Africa has talent in abundance but we are not doing enough to develop it.
"We need to invest more resources into the developmental leagues."
SA Breweries chief Vincent Maphai said they were proud to see more graduates of the Regional League in the professional ranks.
"We are delighted to see graduates of our league like Happy Jele, Lucky Lekgwathi, Reneilwe Letsholonyane, Darren Keet, Tlou Molekwane, Ayanda Dlamini, Andile Jali and many others doing so well."
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