Youth Premier League founder, Tsholofelo Bulala
People who have deliberately decided to become problem solvers lead better. This is true of Tsholofelo Bulala, founder of the high standard Youth Premier League in Giyani.
The dynamic former University of Pretoria FC administrator discovered a need for an organised and functional youth development league in Giyani three years ago and deliberately took it upon herself to solve it.
She actively coordinated all the youth soccer development teams around Giyani and formed an organised and professionally run soccer league since 2021.
The league is an affiliate of the South African Football Association (SAFA) and caters only for the Under 13, Under 15 and Under 17.
It has a total of thirty six affiliated youth development teams grouped in three different league divisions of twelve teams each.
The League concentrates on creating a structure in which teams are able to grow and understand the processes that are in football.
“We want to discover talent and facilitate how it should be nurtured while looking for opportunities for players within the league structure” Bulala added. Now that the league has been registered with SAFA under the supervision of the Local Football Association (LFA) their players are eligible for provincial and national team selections. Already two players from the league Makungu Hlungwani and Sisanda Mabunda from Power United have represented Limpopo Province in the Under 17.
Affiliation fee is R600 for the Under 17 while the Under 13 and Under 15 pay only R500. The Champions in each of the three league divisions receive brand new soccer kits, trophies and gold medals while the runners-up and third place receive silver and bronze medals.
All the teams in the league will each receive soccer equipment such as cones, balls and nets at the end of the season courtesy of the league sponsors Kulungwana Accountant and Marsana Food Distributers. Only teams from Giyani are allowed to participate in the league.
Gimbo FC Under-17 lead the Youth Premier League log standings
Xikukwani Academy are currently on top of the U-13 league log.