Mamelodi Sundowns midfielder Teboho Mokoena has discussed how lack of professional football in his home province, Free State is negatively impacting the area.
Free State used to have at least two professional teams in the PSL but that is no longer the case, as both Bloemfontein Celtic and Free State Stars no longer exist.
Celtic sold their Premiership status to Royal AM at the beginning of the 2021/22 season, who renamed and relocated the team to KwaZulu-Natal. A season later, Ea Lla Koto's National First Division status was also sold to Casric Stars, who relocated the team to Mpumalanga.
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Mokwena, a Bethlehem native, says it's sad that players from that region in the PSL can't play in front of their families in away matches. And more pertinently, the Bafana Bafana midfielder also raised a point that the lack of professional football in Free State has seen teenagers resort to drugs instead, as there is no hope of turning professional.
"It's very sad because you can't even go home and play in front of your family, because back then we used to go and play in front of our families against Free State Stars," Mokwena said in an interview on Marawa Sports Worldwide.
"Now there's nothing like that. That's why I think most teenagers they turn their back against football and then go to drugs because there's no football in Free State," he said.
The 26-year old, however, went on to reveal that he is planning to hold coaching clinics, with the help of some of his teammates to motivate youngsters in the region.
"But now I'm planning to do (coaching) clinics in June, so that at least we can get some motivation for the players and I'll bring some guys from my team," he revealed.
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Mokwena has also not ruled the possibility of starting a tournament in Free State to be run under the banner of his foundation, if he gets sponsorship for it."If I get the sponsorship I'll do it," he added.
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