A window of opportunity has opened for Ascent Soccer starlet Rose Kabzere as South African giants Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies have invited her for one-week training placement.
Kabzere flew out of the country through Kamuzu International Airport on Monday morning.
Ascent announced yesterday that the talented youngster will spend one week with the club in Johannesburg, South Africa.
While in the Rainbow Nation, Kabzere will take part in Sundowns Ladies’ pre-season preparations and participate in training sessions and matches.
Ascent Soccer co-founder George Maguire said the training placement will be a good opportunity for the youngster to prove her worth.
“Over the last two years, Rose has continued to break new ground in Malawi women’s football. Technically, she is in a class of her own in Malawi. This training placement will inspire Rose to keep pushing towards her goal of playing professionally on the global stage,” Maguire said.
Maguire said Ascent have several training placements in the pipeline—some in Africa and others in Europe—for most promising players at the Academy.
However, Kabzere cannot join Sundowns Ladies as she is 16 years old.
Fifa guidelines state that players cannot sign a professional contract until they reach 18 years. Ascent Academy Girls Coach Thom Mkolongo encouraged the youngster to work exceptionally hard and represent both Ascent and Malawi while with Sundowns Ladies.
She is considered as one of the brightest talents in women’s football from Malawi, after having her debut for senior Scorchers at 15 years.
She also featured and scored for senior Scorchers during the 2022 Cosafa Cup.
Kabzere won the Golden Boot Award with nine goals in four matches during the Region 5 Under-17 Cosafa Girls Championship last year in Lilongwe. She was named as player of the tournament for Central Region Fam League when she led Ascent to their maiden title. She scored 21 goals.
Last year, Ascent’s Festus Duwe had a month-long training placement at Stellenbosch whereas Lovemore Mbeta earned trials at Spanish side Velez FC in August.