From F365:
Manchester United are looking to sponsor a coaching academy in Cape Town as they seek to recruit the hottest young talent from South Africa.
Sir Alex Ferguson and coach Jim Ryan are in Cape Town this week to run the rule over the facilities and see some of the young players. With the Premiership in a lull for international week, Ferguson looked relaxed and happy to be away from the day to day pressures of the job.
Sir Fergie took in the horseracing at nearby Durbanville and presented a trophy for the day's featured race, named in honour of his horse the Rock Of Gibraltar. Later, he seemed less pleased when he had to present an autographed ball to a Newcastle fan, but he took it in good grace.
The hairdryer treatment was a million miles away as Ferguson glad-handed and signed autographs – and at one point a baby. Only a man who asked him to autograph an unauthorised biography felt the legendary Ferguson wrath. The man's improbable claims that he had waited 53-years to meet Fergie fell on deaf ears.
The Dark Knight seemed genuinely happy to do the meet and greet with United's inevitable army of overseas fans. Maybe he should have retired and taken that ambassadorial role after all…
Ferguson and Ryan, who ran the rule over an Under-15 and Under-17 training session on Thursday, were impressed with both the facilities, the Sports Science Centre and the young players at the Old Mutual Cape Town Football Academy.
The centre of excellence was set up when Cape Town football clubs Rygersdal and Vasco Da Gama merged to form a youth academy, and now with the involvement of investment giants Old Mutual, and Manchester United, they aim to provide a foundation for the discovery of untapped local talent.
Jim Ryan said: "We believe South Africa is a breeding ground for potentially world class players. I know that there is a lot of talent in Africa. I have seen enough youngsters in youth tournaments to know that the talent is definitely here."
"I am very impressed with what I have seen today, these are nice pitches and there is enough area here for a lot of boys to train. The talent is definitely here. But the key word here is 'emerging.' I believe the talent is now emerging.”
As United seek to benefit from snapping up the hottest talent early on, they will also be putting something back into South African football by providing first-class coaching and expertise.
Said Ryan: "We have a lot of experience in coaching and obviously a long history in football so we hope to be able to bring some of that to South African football."
Manchester United have already had some success in the South African market, with midfielder Quinton Fortune having impressed on the many occasions he has deputised for Ryan Giggs. The Cape Town player has been rewarded with a new deal by the club, and United are keen to bring more South Africans over. Ryan says:
"If there is a special player that grows up in Cape Town I’d like to think that we have a chance to take him to Manchester."
Ferguson and Ryan left Cape Town for Pretoria on Friday to explore a tie-up with the Cape Town Football Academy and the Pretoria-based Tuks Soccer Academy, which is headed by former United goalkeeper Gary Bailey.
Manchester United are looking to sponsor a coaching academy in Cape Town as they seek to recruit the hottest young talent from South Africa.
Sir Alex Ferguson and coach Jim Ryan are in Cape Town this week to run the rule over the facilities and see some of the young players. With the Premiership in a lull for international week, Ferguson looked relaxed and happy to be away from the day to day pressures of the job.
Sir Fergie took in the horseracing at nearby Durbanville and presented a trophy for the day's featured race, named in honour of his horse the Rock Of Gibraltar. Later, he seemed less pleased when he had to present an autographed ball to a Newcastle fan, but he took it in good grace.
The hairdryer treatment was a million miles away as Ferguson glad-handed and signed autographs – and at one point a baby. Only a man who asked him to autograph an unauthorised biography felt the legendary Ferguson wrath. The man's improbable claims that he had waited 53-years to meet Fergie fell on deaf ears.
The Dark Knight seemed genuinely happy to do the meet and greet with United's inevitable army of overseas fans. Maybe he should have retired and taken that ambassadorial role after all…
Ferguson and Ryan, who ran the rule over an Under-15 and Under-17 training session on Thursday, were impressed with both the facilities, the Sports Science Centre and the young players at the Old Mutual Cape Town Football Academy.
The centre of excellence was set up when Cape Town football clubs Rygersdal and Vasco Da Gama merged to form a youth academy, and now with the involvement of investment giants Old Mutual, and Manchester United, they aim to provide a foundation for the discovery of untapped local talent.
Jim Ryan said: "We believe South Africa is a breeding ground for potentially world class players. I know that there is a lot of talent in Africa. I have seen enough youngsters in youth tournaments to know that the talent is definitely here."
"I am very impressed with what I have seen today, these are nice pitches and there is enough area here for a lot of boys to train. The talent is definitely here. But the key word here is 'emerging.' I believe the talent is now emerging.”
As United seek to benefit from snapping up the hottest talent early on, they will also be putting something back into South African football by providing first-class coaching and expertise.
Said Ryan: "We have a lot of experience in coaching and obviously a long history in football so we hope to be able to bring some of that to South African football."
Manchester United have already had some success in the South African market, with midfielder Quinton Fortune having impressed on the many occasions he has deputised for Ryan Giggs. The Cape Town player has been rewarded with a new deal by the club, and United are keen to bring more South Africans over. Ryan says:
"If there is a special player that grows up in Cape Town I’d like to think that we have a chance to take him to Manchester."
Ferguson and Ryan left Cape Town for Pretoria on Friday to explore a tie-up with the Cape Town Football Academy and the Pretoria-based Tuks Soccer Academy, which is headed by former United goalkeeper Gary Bailey.