The Diambars Soccer Academy is a place where dreams can be realised.
The academy — situated at Sunward Park High School in Boksburg, east of Johannesburg — offers teenage boys the opportunity to hone their soccer skills while at the same time receiving a quality education.
“They all dream of being champions, but in reality only 10% to 15% of players that pass through the academy will go on to play in the game’s elite leagues, so for the rest of them academics is important,” says Djelloul Habchi, the director of Diambars South Africa.
‘Our goal is education’
“Our goal is education, and soccer is a great leverage and can allow the boys to do great things, but at the same time we want to be pragmatic. We allow the boys to dream, but the focus is on the academics.”
The academy is based on the model of Diambars Senegal, which was built with the help of some French soccer stars and African legends of the game. The Diambars philosophy — the name is derived from the Senegalese word for fighter — emphasises education through soccer, and a high premium is placed on ensuring the boys get a quality education.
“We have a five-year programme,” says Habchi. “So each year we have an intake of 20 boys, all in grade eight, and we hope that they will complete their schooling with us.”
The academy started operating with 20 boys in 2010, but each year a fresh intake of 20 players will be accepted, until the capacity of 100 boys is reached.
Offering hope
For a lucky few, the glamour and riches that come with playing professionally beckon. But for most, Habchi hopes they will be able to go on to further their studies.
“We are hoping to form partnerships with universities here [South Africa] to ensure that the boys go on to study further, and we already have agreements in place with institutions in the United States, United Kingdom, France and Norway to offer full scholarships to Diambars boys,” he explains.
There are strict entrance requirements for the programme, and the first intake of boys was selected from a group of more than 600 hopefuls, scouted over a period of three months. The majority of the boys come from disadvantaged backgrounds and represent South Africa’s diversity, but it is clear that they possess the natural talent and determination to succeed.
“I’ve been with the programme since the start and it’s clear that these boys are talented and working very, very hard,” says Richard Lovell, the team’s principal coach.
Lovell has noticed “a massive difference” in the boys since they arrived, and not just on the field.
Special group
“They’ve come into a new school, a new environment and they have all just started high school and are now staying with a group of fellow players and students. When they first got here some of them struggled but they have settled well.”
The boys live together on the school premises, and while they attend regular school hours, their free time is most often spent on the training field or playing matches in the local under-15 league at the weekend.
They train for 90 minutes each weekday, focusing on technical skills and fitness, with games usually played on Sundays
But the tough regime doesn’t seem to phase they tight-knit group in the slightest.
“It was hard to leave home, but we are coping fine,” says Tisetso Moeketsi, the team captain.
“It is nice training everyday and I’ve made many new friends. All my teammates are my friend, my brothers … they are everything of mine.”
Not without controversy
Soccer academies have often drawn criticism for the way in which they conduct business, with experts raising questions about their motives. Critics have suggested that academies poach the best footballing talent from poor nations, leaving little legacy behind. However, Habchi stresses that Diambars has the best interest of the boys at heart.
“Everything is free of charge for the boys. Obviously this is costing us a lot of money but we are lucky enough to have several partners who believe in what we are doing, and this helps us financially,” he explains.
The academy — which is endorsed by Unesco and the 1 Goal education project — is entitled to a training compensation fee should any of the boys sign for a professional club, but Habchi stresses that this is a Fifa requirement.
“Our main goal is education and the soccer is just a way for us to attract the boys. We don’t just want to help create stars, but also role models that the country can be proud of.”