Real Betis Camp in Paarl, held from the 16th to the 18 May 2023 in Paarl at the Faure Stadium.

• A group of seven football talents from Cape Town have been selected for spend a week in Spain with Real Betis.
• The opportunity provides exposure beyond their local environments, particularly for those from underprivileged areas.
• The initiative aims to showcase positive stories amid challenges for talented youngsters who are pursuing their football aspirations.
• For more sport news, go to the News24 Sport front page. 

Seven emerging football talents from Cape Town have secured a golden opportunity to spend a week in Spain with Real Betis.

In May, the La Liga giants established a satellite academy called the ‘Real Betis Camp’ in the Western Cape.

In a testament to the talent nurtured in this short span, they have selected a group of young footballers for a week-long experience in Seville.

During the camp hosted in Paarl, which featured coaching from Real Betis’ academy in Spain, over 65 youngsters aged 10 to 21, including both boys and girls from various areas in the province, underwent intensive training for two days.

Seven standout talents from this group, showcasing exceptional football potential, were selected for the week-long experience in Spain which commences from Friday, 15 December, to Friday, 22 December.  

The chosen talents are: Zevinio Estley-Junior Swartz (14, Namakwaland), Tyresse Ulrich King (15, Delft), Dimakatso Njabulo Mafila (17, Mbekweni), Gaylon Williams (18, Knysna), Zaydaan Shaboodien (14, Cape Town), Victor John Holland (17, Cape Town), and Tamaryn le Chat (21, Knysna).

Zevinio Estley-Junior Swartz

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Tyresse Ulrich King

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Victor-John Holland

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Tamaryn Le Chat

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Gaylon Williams

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Dimakatso Njabulo Mafila

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Zaydaan Shoboodien

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Ryan Kroutz, the director of Cape Town’s Real Betis Academy, views this opportunity as monumental, not just for South Africa but particularly for youngsters from underprivileged areas who have limited exposure beyond the challenges of their environments.

He emphasises the importance of not only nurturing the potential in children and young adults, but also broadening their perspective and shifting their mindset to see the bigger picture.

“The idea is to give the kids who never dreamed of leaving their own hometown to actually expand their knowledge of football, expand their horizons and expand their mindsets on how far they can go with playing football,” Kroutz told News24.

“This is an opportunity to be scouted by one of the best teams in the world. At the end of the day, it comes down to the success story we want to create for these kids who come from underprivileged areas and conditions.

“This is such a nice and a good story that is out there, among all the other bad that is out there in our province and country. It’s about time we got some good news out there, and this is exactly what it is now.”

The players on the tour will encounter numerous career opportunities and pathways based on their talent level.

Real Betis Academy technical coaches will conduct further assessment and development through training sessions and matches with Real Betis Academy and local teams throughout the week.

Additionally, the players will participate in nutrition classes, enjoy a tour of the Benito Villamarín Stadium, and have the opportunity to watch first team matches and training sessions.