Ke Yona players to try out with Absa Premiership teams

Sixteen of Nedbank’s Ke Yona team players will try out with Absa Premiership teams.

Nedbank’s divisional executive for group marketing, Sydney Nhlanhla Mbhele said the partnership with the Premier Soccer League would see the Ke Yona players being afforded an opportunity to try out at the 16 premiership clubs for a month.

“This is one of the innovative moves in which we seek to follow through in our quest of enabling all in South Africa a chance to make their dreams a reality while we simultaneously go the extra mile in making the things that really matter happen,” said Mbhele.

“We wish all the selected Ke Yona players all the best in proving that they deserve to feature in top flight football.”

A number of Ke Yona players have gone on to sign with Premier Soccer League and National First Division clubs in the past.

“I am overwhelmed and grateful to Nedbank for the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity they have offered me,” said striker Ian Chikohwa.

“It really is a dream come true for me, my life has changed forever and it all started at the Rand Stadium when I took that first step in fulfilling my dreams, not knowing that I would be captain of the 2015 Nedbank Ke Yona Team.”

He wished his teammates all the best and expressed hope that they could all secure lasting deals with the clubs they have been paired with. Chikohwa, a South African of Zimbabwean decent is to try out with AmaTuks from the University of Pretoria.