World Footy News

Four talented young South Africans have been in Canberra at Australia's Institute of Sport as part of their Mtutuzeli Hlomela Scholarships. The scheme is named after the current AFL South Africa Talent Manager, who is also the most successful Aussie Rules footballer to so far emerge from their domestic program.

Three of the four young men come from the FootyWILD ROAR Talent squads recently named - Bayanda Sobetwa, Thembisile Oupaster and Prince Nematswerani. The fourth recipient is Chesney Botha, with very little Australian football background but regarded as an exciting athlete.

The players have made the trip to Australia to participate in the annual AIS/AFL Academy Camp, giving AFL talent scouts the chance to assess their ability against the cream of Australia’s youth.

19 year old Bayanda Sobetwa from Khayelitsha township near Cape Town, was outstanding in a key forward role for Championship winners the Western Cape Magpies, creating opportunities for team-mates at will. 18 year old Thembisile Oupaster is an athletic type from Ikageng township in Potchefstroom measuring 183cm, who showed plenty for the North West over the 3 days of competition and 16 year old Prince Nematswerani (182cm) from Tembisa near Johannesburg displayed an aerial ability and goal-sense which belied his youth and relative inexperience.

Perhaps the most intriguing selection is 17 year old Chesney Botha from Durban, Kwa Zulu Natal, who has been studying at Glenwood Boys High School in Durban, rated by many as one of the top 5 rugby schools in South Africa. At 184cm and 85kg, Chesney is part of the Natal Sharks High Performance Rugby program.

“Chesney was introduced to us by Sean Erasmus, Director of Rugby at Glenwood and Head Coach of the Natal Sharks High Performance program – he’s a fantastic athlete and certainly fits the profile of an AIS/AFL Academy player. Stewart and I had a skills session with Chesney and it was pleasing to see how quickly and easily he adapted to the new skills of the game – the lad is a natural who is willing to try something new”, said Mtutu.

With many Irishmen on AFL lists and international rookie placements going to two Papua New Guineans (a list that will hopefully soon grow), an American (Shae McNamara at Collingwood), two Fijians (Western Bulldogs) and a New Zealander (Kurt Heatherley at Hawthorn), and a regular rookie listed Canadian (Mike Pyke at Sydney), it seems highly likely that a South African will join the big time within the next two years.