How Sekhukhune, Generation Schools plan to reshape youth football development

FOOTBALL academies are a dime a dozen around the country, most of them selling parents and kids dreams of developing aspiring players to play in some of the world’s great football leagues.

- JOHN GOLIATH

But many people running these academies turn out to be snake-oil salespeople. That was certainly the case last month when BT Academy in Cape Town was thrust into the news for all the wrong reasons.

BT Academy came under fire after a group comprising Under-14, Under-19 and girls’ soccer teams were left stranded in Spain when return flights were not booked, despite each player paying R50 000 for what was supposed to be an all-expenses-paid trip to the Donosti Cup.

The bulk of those kids made it home safely thanks to the help of the community and broadcast personality Tracy Lange, who stepped in after the owner of the BT Academy, Brandon Timmy, left them to fend for themselves.

It's tough to regulate these academies, as many aren't affiliated with mother bodies, such as the Safa or Fifa. Safa Cape Town boss Bennett Bailey confirmed that BT Academy wasn't “authorised to participate in Fifa-sanctioned tournaments.” Yet, parents forked out R50 000 to get their kids to Spain to play in a tournament, hoping that it might be a springboard to greater things.

In the end, it turned out to be a nightmare — which, luckily, had a happy ending.