Promising player an inspiration on and off the pitch

fuad Esack|Published 2 years ago

Mitchell’s Plain LFA under-14 player of the year, Rafeeq Isaacs, pictured here on the ball for Spine Road High, maintains possession during his side’s semi-final match against Windsor High, in the Gavin Manuel Memorial under-16 schools’ tournament held at Rocklands High, earlier this year.

It’s been a busy year for Mitchell’s Plain LFA under-14 player of the year, Rafeeq Isaacs, 14, from Eastridge, and a Grade 8 pupil at Spine Road High School.

While struggling a bit to find his feet in the first term of his first year at high school, the former Yellowwood Primary School pupil’s ball skills quickly earned him a spot on the school’s under-16 side that made it all the way to the semi-finals at the Gavin Manuel Memorial tournament at Rocklands High School, going down 2-0 to eventual winners Windsor High School.

Often seen sporting pink coloured hair at tournaments, the tiny baller is hard to miss, going up against much bigger defenders and out-jumping players almost twice his size.

He also decided to go bald in support of Cancer Awareness Month and encouraged his Milano United teammates to do likewise as the squad wrapped up their final league matches in October.

And, with the 16 Days of Activism for No Violence against Women and Children campaign around the corner, the second skin he wears under his kit, carries a strong and appropriate message that his mother, Rafeeqah had had printed on it. It reads: “Ouens Leave Our Vrouens” For that alone he (and perhaps his mom) deserves an award, but it’s his creativity on the ball that earned the youngster Milano’s players’ player of the year award.

A centre attacking midfielder, he’s been playing since the age of 6 and had stints with a number of clubs, including the now defunct Searidge United and Liverpool Portland before joining Milano.

Along the way, Rafeeq, the youngest of two siblings, has made quite an impression on the pitch as highest goalscorer for Liverpool Portland in 2016 , 2017 and in 2018.

He was also the top goalscorer at a tournament in Macassar in 2017 and named player of the tournament in a competition in Eerste River in 2018. However, his biggest accolade thus far came earlier this year when he was called up to the national under-15 side.

So how does one handle high school, soccer, a bit of cricket and running social awareness initiatives among friends.

“A lot of work,” he says confidently , “because one needs to balance things.”

Can’t argue with that and it’s just what Milano United head coach Rafiek Taylor loves to hear.

“He is an excellent footballer that always plays with a smile on his face. He has lots of potential, if he keeps on working hard he might reach the epitome of SA football (PSL) . As a young boy he is kind hearted and very respectful,” Taylor said.

Rafeeq’s squad coach at Milano, Rameez Van Wyk, agrees, calling him “a very good player and leader to his teammates”

“He is always the first player to report on a match day,” Van Wyk said.

Spine Road High’s Rafeeq Isaacs, hard to miss on the pitch as he’s often be seen sporting a pink hairdo.

Even as a young player, Rafeeq Isaacs, MPLFA under-14 player of the year is always keen to raise awareness around social issues, including abuse against women.

Rafeeq Isaacs, third from left, encouraged his teammates to go bald to help raise cancer awareness. Also pictured are Lucio Stellenboom, Alonso Juta, Christiano Botha and Reece Cedras.

MPLFA under-14 player of the year, Rafeeq Isaacs, with coach Rameez van Wyk, at the association’s end of season junior presentation.