15-year-old Roodepoort soccer player gets England chance

FOOTBALL NEWS - A young soccer player and author of three children’s books, Bokang Phiri, has received a life-changing opportunity to play abroad.

According to Roodepoort Record, the 15-year-old from Roodekrans, Roodepoort, has been awarded a 50% soccer and college scholarship at Plymouth College in England, starting this month.

He will be playing and training at the Plymouth Argyle International Academy and said the opportunity is a dream come true and an experience worth its weight in gold.

Bokang started playing soccer at the age of four and it has remained his biggest dream to compete at an international level.

Outside of soccer, he has dedicated himself to promoting a culture of reading among children, particularly in underprivileged communities.

This inspired him to write three children’s books aimed at encouraging children to read for understanding.

“I am extremely grateful and humbled to receive the 50% scholarship. I see it as a reward for years of hard work, discipline and sacrifice.

“The scholarship also eases the financial burden on my family and allows me to focus fully on developing football skills while pursuing my education. Being in a professional environment with quality coaching and exposure will play a major role in shaping my football career and opening future opportunities,” he shares.

Although he has already left South Africa, Bokang still requires financial assistance. His family has launched a BackaBuddy campaign to help cover ongoing costs such as remaining school fees, boarding, training, academic materials and living expenses.

According to his father, Thato, continued community support, no matter how small, will make a significant difference as Bokang settles into this new chapter.