Junior Khanye is planning on tapping into the Daveyton talent pool to identify a crop of talented youngsters to join his foundation.
The former Kaizer Chiefs midfielder had planned to launch the Junior Khanye School Tournament earlier this month, but COVID restrictions have derailed his plans - albeit temporarily.
Khanye, along with other stars like Jabu (Pule) Mahlangu and ‘Skapie’ Mahlatsi, hail from Daveyton on the East Rand, though the area has become synonymous with young stars not living up their talent.
The 35-year-old hopes to change that by giving more young kids the chance to make it as professional footballers.
“There's a school tournament I want to start; it's just that this level three [lockdown] has disturbed me a lot,” Khanye tells KickOff.com.
“It was supposed to start on the 10th of this month, Junior Khanye School Tournament. I'm giving back; it's under Junior Khanye Foundation. The Foundation is two years old now. The school tournament is where I will be identifying 16-year-old boys for the under-18s. It's going to be a 20-man squad.
“I had planned to identify talent I'm going to invest in whereby I would take care of those kids, bring back Daveyton to the picture because at the moment there is no superstar who is representing us even at Bafana Bafana.
“And Daveyton is like Brazil bro, we've got a talent this place bro. Me, Jabu Mahlangu, Thabiso 'Skapie' Malatsi, Pollen Ndlanya, Joe Mabena, Clement Mazibuko... superstars! We are all from here. But because they judge these boys through the mistakes that some of us made... and we didn't kill anyone - everybody has made mistakes more than us, but they were given a second chance.
“But I will never stop searching for the talent. I want boys who are 15, 16 years old. I will also invite other talent scouts that I know. I'm looking to train them in Benoni; there's a private school there. It's going to be organised, it's going to be structured bro.
“I want quality, you know? In my academy I want to bring that missing element in our South African football.”