Virginia Academy Goalkeeper Selected for U17 World Cup in Qatar

VIRGINIA - Sello Mokhobo, goalkeeper for Virginia High School (VHS) and Virginia Sports Academy (VSA), has been called up to the U17 national football team, better known as the Amajimbos, for the 2025 U17 World Cup to be held in Qatar. The tournament will run from 3 to 27 November. Sello joined VHS and VSA in 2024 at the age of 16 and became the first-choice goalkeeper for the school's first team. "The national call-up has been a proud moment for Virginia High School, Virginia Sports Academy, and Virginia community as a whole," said team manager Ngakane Lekhoba. Sello was part of the preliminary team call-up for the U17 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Morocco earlier this year, together with Oageng Lebesane and Lisolethu Tshangela. "We are very proud of Sello. His dedication, sportsmanship, and camaraderie have paid off. He has set a platform for the next generation of talent to make it in the national team," said Lekhoba. He follows in the footsteps of Sipho Mbule (Orlando Pirates) and Teboho Mokoena (Mamelodi Sundowns), who are alumni of VSA and had their first national call-up whilst at the academy. They are now regular national team (Bafana Bafana) players. VSA has produced a number of players in the national team and into the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and National First Division (NFD) teams over the last 21 years. Future sports stars developed here(Opens in a new browser tab) ALSO READ: Future sports stars developed here "Being in the national team and coming from a team without PSL status screams talent. We expect more people in the professional scale to see and have an interest in this young star," said Lekhoba. Sello intends to finish school before turning professional. He is currently a Grade 10 learner at VHS. Some of the VSA players who have made it to the national teams over the years are: Tumelo Nhlapho, Thabang Matuka, Keamohetswe Wolf, Lerato Manzine, Koloko Mokhethi, Kamohelo Maboe, Sipho Nyafoza, Felix Noge, Thulane Dlala, Mogopedi Lesiane, Sechaba Tsoaela, Vumile Nako, and Teboho Masoeu.