t is rare to find a young ambitiousfootballer who can successfullYmarry his natural talent to intellect'

But I have found him and hisname is Themba Zimo.

The zr-year-old fourth-year law studentat the University of Free State has managedto convince me that "if you have a tunnelvi-sion ofyour goals, nothing from the outsidervill distract you from achieving them".

Zimo captained Kovsies to the semifi-nals ofthe Varsity Football Cup iast year'

He insists he was not under duress, per-

haps a sure sign ofhis confidence'"No rvay5. there rlras no pressure on me,"

chuckled Zimo, "because I was alreariyused to taiking to peopie from the law scci-

et1'and other places."-{nd I ri as surprised that ihe Sui's in ihe

team could actua111r'listen to me and allori'me to leaii them. being so young' Becauseso'retimes when young. older players tendto think you need to be kept an eye on ailthe time, but i was different""

Midflelder Zimo, originaliY fromPhuthaditiiraba tn Cu'a-Qu'a. iecl liis sicie ioa t-1 ira,,v against Ace Lor-ers FC tnis r'.'eex-

rr.: ": the SAB Football Festival in Bloern-

fon:ein despite being in the middle of a

rveek of exams in his final year of studies.His dedication to perform every time he

is on the pitch and his consisten'u perfcr-mances in lecture halls make him a com-

Zt mo ltpthereolrtheanld ilut fihG ilcctryn'G hailHUMBLE BEGINNINGS: HE I-EARNED HIS TRADE PLAYING IN THE STREITS

plete player.But it did not all start like this. As a

young boy, Zimo was something akin to a

troubled soul who ended up joining a gang.

an intimate subject he didn't want to go intograve detail about.

He would be caught in the wr:ong crowdfrom time to time until one day he decidedto change the direction ofhis life.

'I was a very naughty child," concededZimo, "but I was alwavs performing in class'

"I didn't grow up with my parents be-

cause of work. I chose to stay rvith mygrandfather and I learnt a lot ofthings fromrny experiences growing up and I applysome of thern now.

"But I think things started happening inmy first year at the i.iniversity of the Free

State."Like manv .young boys fron-r towrrships

around the countrr,. Zimo grew up plaf ingsoccer on the streeis.

-\\-e used to enjoy going out and piayingbecause we loved football.- said Zimo.

"People tvere not eageriy interested inthe (university) team and I think we werethe ones who made it reievant. Plus rve

qualified for the Varsity Cup last year. '\! --"1 think i'arsiiv Cup Ea-ue us exDosui'e

and responsioi,iti'. Bi.ii i a..: -.ilnk rt neipeci

build our confiCence anci charucter.-Zimo's hopes tvere dashed, however,

v.rhen he couidn't crack the nod for the finalsquad of the Castle Lager FootbailAcademy.

The objeciive ofthe academy is to discov-er young talented players with the potential

to be fast-tracked and signed bY

Premier Soccer League and theNationai First Division teams,and who could in the future reP-resent Bafana Bafana.

"I was disappointed," said Zimowith his voice quieter rthen talk-ing about the academl'.

"I thought that rvas my chance toprove myself and get an opportuniti'toshowcase mv ski1ls.

"It would have enhanced n-rl' ch ai:c -

es of getting a team. But I ivlii I - al-r--ue working hard nonethel:=..-

Zimo has noiv signecl i litil,-year conditional contract ',i'i:h .Johannesburg-based lari' frrr :,-

serve his articies shouio he noifind a team.

But he has already aPPIied iofurther his studies at Wits nextyear and he explained whY.

"it's a pian." chuckled Zimo."Noi oniy- rvill I be able to garnermore knorvledge at Wits, but I wilialso have a chance to Plai'for theunkessity team as ri'ell.-

Z;:ln.i5 the conrPlete Package.\-e.-., ,.i.' .'l:: -:::'.. : : i-::

rtl*i;i;::l:i;;1,!::.i"

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