Spanish callback for Hangberg football star

"I want this to be proof that no matter where you come from, if you believe in yourself and stay committed, the world will start to believe in you too."

- TAURIQ HASSEN

These are the words of one of Hangberg's brightest football talents, Hashten-Lee Gertse, 18, who has just taken a step closer to becoming the star he hopes to be.

Gertse attended Ambleside School of Hout Bay for his entire schooling career and this is where the dream all started.

He first kicked a ball for his school team at a young age before deciding to join the Dash Leopards from Hout Bay, where he spent two years before moving to Hout Bay United.

"I was 15 at the time. I quickly noticed the level I needed to be at to improve and progress within the club. At the age of 16, I was already playing with the under-18s," he proudly said.

Gertse's biggest achievement so far came when he was selected at a trial to go and play football in Italy as part of an under-21 team that was composed of players from all over Cape Town ("Reaching for the stars", Sentinel News, July 1, 2021).