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Keeping in touch with our star Sibusiso Maziko
In the middle of 2017 a young soccer player from the streets of Kwanokuthula, Sibusiso “Simply the best” Maziko, left his father Sandisile, his mother, Nomathemba Elizabeth, and his sister Oyena (7) to follow his football dream in Pretoria.
He took the gamble and went for trials in Pretoria, where he was selected for the Supersport United Academy. He was only 17 years old.
The talented young footballer, now 21, has been giving an excellent performance in the DSTV Diski Challenge (Premier Soccer League Reserve League) and has been bagging some beautiful goals for the Tshwane-based reserve side Supersport United FC.
Sbu, as he is also called, shared his story with Knysna-Plett Herald. He has been passionate and committed to soccer from an early age, he said. Growing up in Plett, he attended Murray High School and represented the Plettenberg Bay side Oriented Birds in the Safa Eden Regional League.
It was not easy to start a new life in Pretoria. As a young footballer, he encountered many challenges. “If you want to achieve in life, you need to sacrifice many things – such as family and friends – and the comfort zone of your environment,” he said.
Besides leaving his family to follow his football dream, he also had to limit his time with friends.
While he was eating and sleeping soccer, he managed to complete his school career, passing his matric last year at Saulridge Secondary in Atteridgeville, Pretoria.
After four years in Pretoria, he believes that everything will go well, no matter how hard it goes or how long it takes. The determined young man is pursuing his dream to not only become a global football star but also help underprivileged kids to rise above their circumstances. “All I know is, my time will come and I will rise and shine bright like a star,” said Sibusiso Maziko.