Young footballers from Cape Town shine at Sweden international tour
Image: Ayanda Ndamane
Young footballers from Cape Town's Life Zone Soccer International have returned home in triumph after completing their three-week Dream Possible Tour in Sweden — a journey that has once again showcased the extraordinary talent emerging from under-resourced communities.
As part of their ninth international tour, Life Zone's Under-12 boys and girls squads represented South Africa at two prestigious tournaments abroad. The boys team made history by claiming gold in the Piteå Summer Games, going undefeated throughout the tournament.
Their momentum continued in the Storsjöcupen, hosted in Östersund, where they placed second overall. The girls squad put in a spirited performance, advancing to the quarter-finals.
Coach Jeremy Wyngaard, founder and head of Life Zone Soccerl, said the Dream Possible Tour is a culmination of hard work, sacrifice, and a community united by belief.
"This is our 9th tour to Sweden. The kids are from some of the schools that we work in Kensington, Factreton, Heideveld, communities associated with being underprivileged, yet there is so much talent. That is why it's so important to firstly acknowledge the parents and the grandparents who work hard throughout the year to raise funds."
Life Zone Soccer International, a grassroots development initiative, has defied the odds since its inception."At first people told us we are crazy, we not going to make it with the touring idea, and look now, we just came back from our ninth tour, in victorious fashion," Wyngaard said proudly.
He believes that the Dream Possible Tour is more than just a sports outing — it's a launchpad for long-term change.
"Many of these players have the ability to make it very far, even internationally. All it takes is the support and constant building of character and skill set. It is possible, dreams are possible."
Proud mom Glenda with her son Vellentino Dolan
Image: Ayanda Ndamane
That belief rings true for Francois 'Faffa' October, whose son Samuel was part of the gold-winning boys team.
"Samuel has been playing soccer since seven years old. I don't know where he got his talent from, certainly not from me, but he's definitely got a skill set," he joked.
October recounted the moment the boys were crowned champions in Sweden.
"We had a WhatsApp group and it just went crazy — our boys, Capetonians, South Africans placed first in Sweden! I am overwhelmed with pride."
Among the standout players was Vellentino Dolan, the youngest on the squad and the team's top scorer with more than 40 goals out of 129.
"I don't even have words to explain how proud I am of not only Vellentino but the team. But my son, wow, he is showing that anything is possible, so his dream of playing internationally one day is very much possible," said his mother, Glenda Dolan.
Glenda, who works full-time, saved every month to make the tour a reality."He is just so good, he made it worthwhile. I am proud to call him my boy."
When asked about his goal-scoring secret, 11-year-old Vellentino, a striker and die-hard Liverpool fan, said softly: "Before I score, I run and pray. I just pray, then I score."
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