Baloyi is currently accompanying and mentoring a South African team contesting the unique five-a-side tournament, known as the CASTLE AFRICA 5’s, at the competition finals in Zambia.
Milanos FC, who won the South African finals, will be competing with teams representing Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Swaziland, Tanzania and hosts Zambia, for an all-expenses paid trip to the 2018 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in Russia next month.
Chatting exclusively to snl24.com/kickoffin Lusaka, ‘Spider’ has lauded the importance of such events and the backing from Castle, while also highlighting the benefits of the small-sided game.
“This is a great step in the right direction from Castle to run the biggest five-a-side tournament on the continent, and I’m excited to be a part of it,” Baloyi says.
“I’ve played five-a-side for about 15 years, and I know the benefits of what the small-sided game can do for our football in general in the country.”
The current Kaizer Chiefs goalkeeper coach, however, feels more resources need to be ploughed into the poorer communities in order for South African football to truly benefit.
“Unfortunately, when you look around Jo’burg, even Cape Town and other cities, mostly five-a-side pitches are more in your affluent areas,” he laments.
“We need to bring some of these facilities to our townships and rural areas, which is where I believe it will make a massive impact.
“Because, when kids are getting used to playing in confined spaces, they become much more technically advanced than when they’re playing in a 11-a-side format.
“So, for our kids to develop, I think this is what we need to emphasise more, and in that way we will be able to become more superior in that aspect of our game.”