From the Northern Cape to the US, that’s what it will take for aspiring professional footballer Lebohang Mathikga Jr to try to make his dream become a reality after departing South Africa for the US last week Wednesday.

The 19-year-old defender obtained a soccer scholarship to study at Putnam Science Academy in Connecticut, US.

This is after he caught the eyes of scouts from the Science Academy when he went to Manchester in England after being picked as one of the 40 players selected by Cape Town-based side Sim Tours development agency to partake in soccer clinics, where they played against the likes of English League two side Fleettown FC juniors and League one side Bolton Wanderers juniors in 2022.

Last year, Mathikga traveled with Empire FC from Centurion to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where he got a chance to train with professional side Al Nasr SC.

While a move to the US is a great opportunity for him to try to take his career further, it comes with a huge cost.

The total tuition fee at the academy is $62, 622, 00 (R1,120, 442, 27), with the scholarship paying 70 percent of the fees while the remaining 30 percent is set to be paid by his parents. An amount of $12, 550,00 (R224, 582,00) is expected to be paid by next February by the family.

However, in trying to see their son living his dream, his father, Lebohang Mathikga Senior, and his wife Kelebogile have already paid almost half of the amount that needs to be paid towards their child’s fees.

“If I can tell you about my life, you will understand why (we ensured that he goes to the US). The belief that we have in him is above whatever we have or think about. We are doing this not expecting anything, but for him to get the experience of a lifetime (studying and playing football abroad),” said Mathikga senior, who owns a soccer academy in Northern Cape called Lebohang Sports Development.

“We tried to get (financial) support everywhere, even from the government. But we ended up agreeing as a family that when God opens a door for you no one can close it. We are not putting him under pressure to say that he must go there and search for a team.”

“He must go there and study. It doesn’t necessarily mean that we want him to look for an opportunity to play professional football. I have an academy that needs his expertise as a player, and whatever he learns from there (US) he will bring it to the academy.”

Meanwhile, Mathikga Junior has seen this opportunity as a stepping stone to achieving his dream of playing in one of the top five leagues in the world.

The defender, who admires former Bafana Bafana midfielder Quinton Fortune, says he is grateful for the chance to showcase his talent away from home.

“I’m very excited about this current opportunity. It serves as the first step to achieving my professional aspirations and dreams. I still have many achievements that I have to achieve such as making my professional debut in one of the top five leagues in the world. Winning an international Cup with the national team and more,” said the defender, who was studying Bcom Marketing at New Bridge Graduate Institute in Pretoria before leaving the country.

Article by Tshepo Ntsoelengoe