It seems some soccer hopefuls are quite eager to secure their spot on the trials list, as the Nedbank Ke Yona team USSD line remains abuzz although entries only open on Friday, 15 March.
“We are encouraged by the number of people showing interest in taking part in the Nedbank Ke Yona Team. This shows that South Africans are continuously looking for opportunities to make things happen for themselves and this means that we are on the right path to enabling them. We urge all participants to make use of the USSD line to enter once registration has been opened on March 15,” says Sydney Mbhele: Divisional Executive for Integrated Marketing at Nedbank.
Prospective footballers wishing to participate can register by dialling *120*539662# and follow the steps to complete registration. Registration will close on Saturday, 20 April. Out of the total number of entries only 550 players per province will be selected through a random draw to participate in the regional trials. Participants are reminded to visit
www.keyonateam.co.za to familiarise themselves with the entry criteria before registering.
The nationwide search commences on Saturday, 20 April, starting in Port Elizabeth and ending in Kimberly on Saturday, 8 June. On average, five players per province will be selected to form a squad of 45. The Nedbank Ke Yona team will then enter ‘boot camps’ where they will be trained by various soccer legends. It is envisaged that the squad of 45 players gets narrowed down to final group of 18 soccer stars. There will also be a reality TV series that follows the progress of the players as they get put through their paces. The show will be aired on Saturday afternoons at 14:00 on SABC1 starting on Saturday, 4 May until Saturday, 20 July.
“The Nedbank Cup has been a career launch pad for many soccer stars. The Nedbank Ke Yona team will enable us to extend our reach and enable us to connect with even more South Africans, as we continue to empower soccer stars and communities with the resources they need to reach their dreams, so it is quite exciting to see people grabbing this opportunity with both hands.” adds Mbhele.
The final Nedbank Ke Yona team will consist of 18 aspiring non-professional soccer players who will go head to head with the winners of the 2013 Nedbank Cup. Drawing inspiration from various talent search TV series such as
Idols,
MasterChef and X-Factor, Nedbank hopes the Ke Yona team search will become a soccer phenomenon for those aspiring to become South Africa’s next big football stars.
Soccer loves and Nedbank Ke Yona team hopefuls alike are encouraged to visit www.psl.co.za/ www.nedbankcup.co.za or see the press for what promises to be the best Nedbank Cup yet. Alternatively, follow
@nedbank and/or
@nedbanksport on
Twitter or like the NedbankSport
Facebook page.
Trial Dates:Port Elizabeth on Saturday, 20 April at the St Georges Cricket Stadium;
Durban on Friday, 26 April at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium;
Polokwane on Wednesday, 1 May at the Peter Mokaba Stadium;
Rustenburg on Saturday, 11 May at the Olympia Park Stadium;
Nelspruit on Sunday, 12 May at the Mbombela Stadium;
Bloemfontein on Sunday, 19 May at the Vodacom Park Stadium;
Cape Town on Saturday, 1 June at the Philippi Stadium;
Johannesburg on Sunday, 2 June at the FNB Stadium; and
Kimberley on Saturday, 8 June at the GWK Stadium.