Motsepe wants youngsters in Downs team

Mamelodi Sundowns president Patrice Motsepe would like to see more young players from the team's academy featuring regularly in the senior team.

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Mamelodi Sundowns president Patrice Motsepe would like to see more young players from the team's academy featuring regularly in the soccer team's playing squad, he said on Friday.

“The focus is on identifying the best of players, investing in youth and attracting them to Sundowns which is very important,” he said.

At the moment, just four members of the squad come from the academy.

Motsepe was speaking at the announcement of the club's R500,000 a year sponsorship of the SA Football Association Tshwane development league for the next five years.

The Brazilians have earned the reputation of being the country's big spenders.

However, in the past decade, this formula has not always yielded results or silverware for the club, which is one of the country's Big Three alongside Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs.

“One of the mistakes that we made was the focus on the better-established players, even though at our level it is important, but what is even more important is investment in our youth,” said Motsepe.

“I was talking to the coach – Johan Neeskens – before going overseas and said it would be exciting seeing a 16-year-old being a regular in the senior team. It would send a strong message – to development .

“In relation to where our academy should be, there's still some way to go. The ultimate result will be seeing the players we developed in the starting 11.”

Another concern for the mining magnate was the dwindling attendance at Sundowns' home games despite the team featuring a number of high profile players in their squad.

Sundowns have moved their home games from Lucas Moripe Stadium, in Atteridgeville, west of Pretoria, to Loftus, which is centrally located in the city.

Motsepe had wanted to move the club to their traditional home at HM Pitje Stadium, in Mamelodi, three seasons ago, but the move is still in limbo.

The recently refurbished venue, which was used as a training ground in last year's Soccer World Cup, has been deemed not yet complete.

“When we play Chiefs and Pirates, they come in numbers. I haven't been very happy, but I think its a responsibility for all of us,” Motsepe said.

“We had 4000 or 5000 at our last game. It must be much more so. We need to educate our supporters that we need them more when we – as a team – are not doing well.

“HM Pitje is key to us in long-term. The thing is, Loftus is very central because coming from Mamelodi, a supporter has to pay twice travelling to Atteridgeville and twice back again and we have decided to make travelling easy for the fans.” – Sapa

Source: http://www.iol.co.za/motsepe-wants-youngsters-in-downs-team-1.1148476

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