MARITZBURG UNITED FC

The Development Wing of the Club has been in existence since the acquisition of the Professional Status and has gradually developed into a highly productive department in terms of player development, school football projects, community development football projects, talent identification and football social development for the underprivileged and disabled.

The Board of Directors and in particular the Chairman is very supportive of this department and works quite closely with the Club’s Head of Football Development, Mr. Katz Naidoo.

The entire Club’s Development Coaches have the necessary qualifications in the development of youth players, with the Directors providing the necessary financial aid in them acquiring their Coaching Badges. To-date the Club has employed six Coaches, which includes the Head of Football Development.

Recruits have been identified through out the Kwa Zulu Natal Province and in particular the Richmond, Mpofana ( Mooi River), Impendle, Mkhambathini, Msunduzi (Pietermaritzburg), Msunduzi, Umshwathi ,Umgeni (Howick), Hammarsdale and Sisonke (Ixopo/Kokstad). Trials were held in all the above mentioned areas and talent were identified and recruited into the programme.

The programme is proving to be fruitful and promising with the promotion of three U19 players to the first team, namely Lucky Nene, Jabulani Ncobeni and Nhlanhla Sithole. These highly talented players will be making waves in the football world in the coming weeks and years.

All the Development squads are affiliated to District Football Associations and currently topping their respective leagues, with the U19 Team achieving the treble in the Metropolitan Cup winning the District, Regional and Provincial Championship and two (2) club Championships.

The players from the High Performance centre and from the Academy currently use the facilities available out side the Harry Gwala Stadium, but the aim is find suitable permanent premises to pursue our long term goals which are to install specialized equipment and other necessary amenities.

While the Club is currently providing all the necessary funding to ensure the smoothing running of the programme, it is becoming essential to sustain the standards by acquiring further funding.

Herewith is an overview of the development programme within the existing set up;

This age group is known as the “Preformation” group. It is made up of exceptional participants in the 12 to 13 year old age group. The coaching objective for this group revolves around the development of techniques within match conditions. During Preformation the target is for the participants to perfect basic skills. Their programme operates from Mondays through to Fridays from 15H30 to 17H00 in the summer and 14H30 to 16H30 during the winter period. This group is made of thirty (30) participants. They have been affiliated to the Maritzburg and District Football Association and participate in U15 Competitions.

This age group is known as the “Formation” Group. The objective is to prepare the players ready to play at the highest level of the game. The participants from the Preformation stage, by virtue of the performance and age graduate to the Formation stage. The programme at this level is aimed at fostering “classical” virtues like life style, players’ individual personalities, discipline, assertive 1 v 1 play and development of group and team tactics.

The programme operates from Mondays through to Fridays from 15H30 to 17H30 in the summer and 15H00 to 17H00 in winter. They have been affiliated to the Maritzburg and District Football Association and participate in U17 Competitions.

Ideally, players go from Formation to active careers as professional soccer players in either our reserve team or to the first team. This also opens doors to the sale of players to other leading sides nationally or internationally, thus recouping the Club’s investment on these players.

This is our “elite” group within our development structure and is the reserve team. Huge investments have been made to ensure their upkeep. Currently the players reside in a hostel with exceptional facilities, balanced nutrition and education. The players school fees, transport to schools, and medical needs are provided by the club. The club has employed a medical practitioner and a physiotherapist to ensure that the players are healthy and in peak physical condition.

These players are kept in readiness to make the break into the first team. The training objectives are based on maintaining a high level on all round match conditions and are closely linked to the first team’s methodology. At this level the player must be in the “performance” stage and have the ability to play within a game plan.

These players range between the ages of 15 and 17 and come from various parts of the KZN Province. They are currently affiliated to the Maritzburg and District Football Association’s, Premier League and participate in all regional and national competitions.

The team is also involved team talks and other related football topics twice a week in the evenings, which at times involves guest speakers. They train five days week, their sessions lasting two (2) hours normally from 16h00 to 18h00.

Note due to financial constraints only the Under 19’s/reserve group in the Club’s Development Structure is fully provided for.

Under 15’s 30 players
Under 17’s 20 players
Under 19’s./reserve team 22 players

The person primarily responsible for talent promotion is the Head of Football Development, Katz Naidoo who answers directly to the Directors. Besides Katz Naidoo there are four (4) coaches and a goal keeper coach who are all part time and a full time development coordinator who also acts as counsellor.
For training, MUFC Development Programme uses the A B Jackson Sports Fields for the U15 and U17. The U19’s use the Woodlands Sports Grounds. It is the Club’s desire to find permanent facilities.
Only the U19 players live in a dorm, with two players to a room. The facility also provides rooms for a study/library and recreation.
Most of the players (U19) attend nearby schools outside the lodging facility. Academic instruction takes place at the facility only in exceptional cases.
The cost of the entire development structure for all the age groups are borne by the Directors of the Club. In the case of the U15 and U17 groups they continue to live in their home environment, with their parents who are responsible for their education, transport to training and their personal attire with the exception of a the track suit and additional training clothing which is provided by the Club.
Through Preformation, Maritzburg United Football Development Wing prepares talented young players to make the transition to intensive training with the first team. It is a great advantage to the club to be able to choose players who are well trained and are technically skilled youth players.

As a rule, the club chooses players during the Preformation and approach parents to sign a contract that will see child through to the Formation stage. However, the contract may not go into effect until Preformation is complete.