23 Nov 2022

Thabo Sebetela (28) is scheduled to participate in the Maryland International Football Tournament in the United States in April 22, 2023.

Sebetela, who did well during his trials with Gridiron, South Africa, has been selected to join a 25-player squad headed for the US.

Gridiron RSA, an association of American football in South Africa, has extended its invitation to Sebetela in recognition of his marvellous performance in the playing fields.

He said the sponsorship for flights to and from the US had been confirmed, but hoped to get more sponsorships and donations to help fund additional flights, accommodation and purchase of playing and training equipment.

Therefore, he pleaded with businesses to sponsor his travel and related provisions.

He said the opportunity came at a time when he had been working behind the scenes to commission the American Football Sporting Code locally, saying he hoped it would give him exposure to all processes.

He forged ties with Canadian, Mark Maren, who runs an NGO that seeks to improve the sport in Africa and Asia.

The duo’s conversations led to a proposed partnership to set up training stations in the country.

Sebetela said first they needed to identify at least 50 players to get the support of the NGO, something he promised to achieve soon, considering that Maren along with his team were eager to resume coaching courses, setting up children’s programmes and training activities.

Meanwhile, president and chairperson of Gridiron RSA, Stephen Radebe, said they were impressed with Sebetela’s commitment to advance the sport in Africa.

He said though the wide receiver was a Botswana national, the invitation was not necessarily a South African national team but a team that will be representing a South African organisation. Radebe said management decided to not limit the opportunity to South African nationals only, but anyone who was a contact and a patriot of Gridiron RSA.

“This will be a full contact football event and therefore we will put qualified resources and preparation to recruit, train and assess all participants on the field while also utilizing virtual training platforms for Sebetela and other participants in different provinces in the country,” said Radebe.

He said the week-long training camps, at least once a month, from November 2022 to early April 2023 will be scheduled soon as they had secured other logistics and necessary training equipment. ENDS