So many children in Africa dream to play on the global stage. To achieve this, one of the ways to improve your talent before you become an elite footballer is to do football trials. This is an valuation procedure in which young soccer players demonstrate their skills and talent to coaches and scouts from professional teams.
In South Africa, you need enlist in a football academy to do football trials since they offer training programs to develop grassroots football. Here are the guidelines explaining how to participate in football trials in South Africa.
1. Identify the soccer academy within South Africa you wish to join
Simply search for football academies near you and their fees. Some of the football clubs in South Africa, such as Kaizer Chiefs FC, have academies that provide training programs.
Cape Town and Johannesburg are homes to many football academies, including Cape Town City Trials and Young Bafana Soccer Academy.
2. Check out whether they currently have any open trails available
Most academies frequently host open trials where aspiring footballers can participate. International football trials are often announced through social media forums. It is worth noting that one needs to possess a unique talent in football before sending online registrations.
The applicant also need to be physically fit and pass all medical requirements.
Most football trials in South Africa scout young players aged of 9 to 21. These criteria differ from academy to academy.
3. Reach out to the football academy
You can reach out to academies directly via email, telephone or through their official website. Read the guidelines on their website. Most academies charge a membership fee of R1500 per player, or $100 for African players outside South Africa.
The academy also charges fees for purchasing football kits, coaching, and other services.
Fees for football academies differ. For instance, BSI Football Academy charges 110,000 Rand per year, including formal soccer education.
4. Join professional clubs through scouting or referrals
There are other ways budding footballers can get into academies without paying through talent identification by scouts in trials.
NGO-sponsored affiliate academies offer scholarships for talented players scouted from their trials.
Clubs conduct yearly academy trials, and prospective applicants need to be constantly on the lookout by checking academies’ websites for any incoming trials.