UJ shot-stopper Damaine Van Der Walt is tasked with keeping the goals out of the net week in and week out, however his goal is to make it to the Premier Soccer League.
Born in the south of Johannesburg, Damaine aspires to be the best person he can be and believes that football is more than just a sport. “Football to me is a way of life, it’s the one thing that keeps me sane,” said the UJ goalkeeper. Damaine has caught the eye of a lot of fans with his shot-stopping ability and his fearless attitude in defending his goal.
In 2011 he won goalkeeper of the tournament at the Under-17 Engen Cup, while he was still involved in Sundowns’ development system. Prior to that he received his national colours for football in 2010, and the recent FASU (Federation of Africa University Sports) cup victory with UJ in the Joburg Cup, are Damaine’s biggest awards and achievements he has received while playing football.
Damaine was a free agent when his longtime friend and teammate (Dane Fortuin) called him and told him to attend UJ’s football trials, and the rest was history. With age still on his side, Damaine looks likely to be molded into one of the finest goalkeeping talents in South Africa. In terms of role models, Damaine looks up to Bidvest Wits keeper Moeneeb Josephs and abroad he looks up to Manuel Neuer.
“My short term goal is to win trophies with UJ and hopefully make it into the PSL, I want to have a long, injury-free and successful football career and I definitely see myself becoming a coach once I have retired from the beautiful game.”
UJ are currently on the quest for their first Varsity Football trophy after coming agonisingly close in 2014, whether they make it or not this year, will rely on Damaine’s goalkeeping ability and the team’s willingness to go all the way.
By Nkosinathi Shazi
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