Be brave and not afraid to get hurt, cause it's not easy to throw your body to the ground.

1. Tell us about yourself.

My Name Is Malatji Prince am 21 years of Age. I was born and Raised in a dusty village of Ga Mashabela In Limpopo. I'm a goalkeeper And A Student At The Tshwane University Of Technology, Studying Sports Management.

2. At what age did you start playing football?

I was born into a family of great football players. My cousins were all great at it. In 2004 when I was five years old, my cousins would take me to their training sessions during the week and take me to matches at the weekend so that I can look after their clothes when they are playing. I started playing when I was seven years old which was in 2006. During that period I was one of the young boys training with the first team. I then continued to train with the first team without playing official matches.

By the grace of God, I started playing official games when the team joined the LFA Local league in 2011 and I played as a defender.

I enjoyed myself as a defender, then in December 2014 just before the 20th we played a mini-tournament, which had four teams, we didn't have a goalkeeper and I was chosen to be their goalkeeper for the day. We ended up losing the match (1:0), since then I chose to be a goalkeeper. I was forced to be their goalkeeper, but at the end of the day, I fell in love with it.

In 2018 I moved to Pretoria after completing my matric in 2017, I then joined a team by the name Jacaranda Football Academy U/19 for six months just so I can learn the modern playing style. I then left the team in June and

joined F.C Ma Lions in the ABC Motsepe League, I have played with them for the season. In 2019 I joined my current team which is Vikings F.C and the rest is history.

3. What requirements are needed to be the best goalkeeper?

The few requirements that I've noticed is that you have to be tall. Height is the most important thing of them all. Be brave and not afraid to get hurt, cause it's not easy to throw your body to the ground. Be a good Communicator, to be able to talk to your players throughout the match.

4. Being a goalkeeper requires a lot from you and trust from your teammates, what is it that you do to make them believe in you as their goalkeeper?

You have to be confident, comfortable, and show a bit of Positivity. Every time we play I try to talk to my defender to make sure that we are all on the same page and understand each other in the field of play. During the game try by all means to minimize your mistakes.

5. If you were to be benched, what is it that runs in your mind and what do you do to always think positive?

Well if I'm benched it means that the other goalkeeper is better than me or he's doing something right. So I always ask the coach to tell me where I should improve and how to improve it so that I can also play. I also try to learn from the other goalkeeper and you what they say, "you learn something new every day".

6. Tell us about your academy that you are currently working on.

Prince_Gk Football Academy. Gk Means Goalkeeper.

I created it to help young footballers out there, especially goalkeepers. We all know that most teams don't have goalkeeper coaches. The reason behind that is because no one wants to take the responsibility to teach or learn about the goalkeeping position. Prince_Gk aim is to create a fair platform for the young ones to feel free and showcase their talent in the best possible way with the right people guiding them. So far the theory part of the organization is done. We are busy with part 2 of the organization which is the practical one. Unfortunately due to the Covid_19 issue, our movements are limited.

7. What is your goal in football life?

My short term goal is to play in the biggest University Competition which is the Varsity Cup and represents the people's University.

My medium goal is to get a professional contract, do what I love, and support my family.

My long term goal and dream is to go abroad and represent my country on the biggest stage.

8. Who is the sports icon that influenced you the most and why?

Internationally is the Spain And Manchester Utd goalkeeper David De Gea, because Of His calmness and his insane reflexes.

Locally it was the late Senzo Meyiwa. I fell in love with him because of his energy and crazy character.

9. Any motivation you would like to share with the readers and players.

I just want to say that God gave you life for a reason.

We all have different talents, you just have to find yours.

Talent alone is not enough, hard work and good behavior always work.