Lerato Manzini buys fourth-tier status to give Welkom academy graduates a pathway

Former Bloemfontein Celtic and Chippa United striker Lerato Manzini has acquired the fourth-division status of Monyakeng Juve FC, creating a senior team for players graduating from his Welkom Football Academy.

The club competes in the Lejweleputswa Regional League in the Free State. Manzini, who founded the academy in 2024, said the move was designed to prevent young players from being lost when they reach the age limit of the academy without securing a PSL contract or scholarship.

“We decided to buy the status so that we can use a Hollywood team as our senior team, because most of the players who graduate do not always receive PSL contracts, and sometimes we lose them,” Manzini told Soccer Laduma.

“At the academy, you can only keep players until the age of 19. Buying the statusthat was the big decision that we decided to make so that we don’t lose the players.”

The new team will provide an additional stage for academy players who are unable to move directly into professional football.

“This team will now be our senior team in the Regional League. Let’s say our academy players don’t get opportunities in the PSL; the next step will be to our Regional League team,” Manzini said.

“You know, in football, sometimes players don’t get that chance to get a PSL contract or maybe scholarships.”

The Regional League season has not started, but Manzini said the squad would largely be built around the academy’s existing under-19 players. A small number of players aged 23 have also been recruited, meaning the side will operate as an under-23 team.

“Our players can still progress and learn more about the game,” he added.

The Welkom Football Academy operates in partnership with Welkom High School and currently has under-12, under-13, under-15 and under-17 teams. Manzini believes competing at senior regional level will strengthen the academy’s development programme.

“We have a lot to teach our players about the game, and the Regional League team will also help us a lot,” he said.

The former striker also acknowledged the contribution of the academy’s technical director, Mrs Malesego Lithuge, who he said had extensive experience in management and administration.

“Also, for me as the founder of the Academy, there’s a lot of work that I’m not familiar with, and credit must also be given to our technical director, Mrs Malesego Lithuge, who’s got a wealth of experience in managing and administrative work,” Manzini concluded.