Cape Town City teen star becomes first South African footballer to sign with Roc Nation Sports

Roc Nation Sports have announced that Cape Town City starlet Luphumlo Sifumba has joined the international sporting agency.

This makes Sifumba the first South African footballer to join the globally renowned agency.

Sifumba is a product of Cape Town City's development programme and has also trained with the club's first team.

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Sifumba joins a star-studded list of other South African athletes signed by Roc Nation including Springboks Sbu Nkosi, Tendai Mtawarira, Cheslin Kolbe and Captain Siya Kolisi. On the list are also Proteas Cricket Captain Temba Bavuma and Lunga Ngidi, along with Proteas Netball SA Captain Bongi Msomi.

In terms of football, Lufumbi joins Manchester City's Kevin De Bruyne and Inter Milan's Romelu Lukaku.

This isn't Sifumba's first trail-blazer moment. The 16-year-old (then 15) also made history last season when he became the youngest player to appear in a DStv Diski Challenge fixture, the reserves league of South African football.

Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI) is proud to announce the landmark signing of prodigiously talented Cape Town City footballer Luphumlo 'Kaka' Sifumba.

This signing is part of the agency's ever-evolving strategy to sign young sportsmen and women at the early stages of their careers, in addition to expanding its footprint in Africa.

Sifumba also becomes the first footballer from South Africa to join Roc Nation Sports International, with RNSI's overseas roster including European superstars such as Kevin De Bruyne, Romelu Lukaku and Tyrone Mings.

Last year, 'Kaka' - as Sifumba is affectionately known - became the youngest player in club history to feature in South Africa's Diski Challenge competition, and was later invited to train with the Cape Town City first-team despite then only being 15 years old.

The youngster, who was first scouted at the age of nine, had come through Cape Town City's DreamClub 100 initiative, which is a progressive youth development programme.

Sifumba then shot to national prominence when he scored a memorable goal for Coastal United in the DStv Compact Cup earlier this year. Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI) will manage Sifumba's career both on and off the field, while providing guidance and support as the teenager continues to progress through to a senior level.

"We are excited to welcome 'Kaka' to the Roc Nation family," says Nathan Campbell, Global Director of Football Recruitment for RNSI. "Kaka is an exciting Attacking Central Midfielder with a gift for scoring goals. He is one of the most promising young talents on the African continent, and we are proud to sign another exceptional South African talent."

Roc Nation Sports International President, Michael Yormark, says the signing of Sifumba
certainly signals the ongoing evolution of an important phase for the agency's growth and
impact on the continent. "Our commitment in South Africa isn't only focused on sportsmen and women who are already household names," he explained.

"We want to be able to make an impact on the careers of talented young athletes who are in the early stages of their careers. Kaka undoubtedly has a very bright career ahead of him, and we look forward to hopefully assisting him in reaching his full potential as a professional. He is a very mature young sportsman, who is just as motivated to make an incredible impact both on and off the field."

Sifumba says it still feels surreal to be part of the Roc Nation Sports International (RNSI) family as he joins fellow South African athletes such as Springbok captain Siya Kolisi, Proteas limited-overs skipper Temba Bavuma and Proteas netball captain Bongi Msomi.

"When I initially met with representatives from Roc Nation, the first thing I said was 'I can't believe I am actually sitting here having this conversation. It is such a proud moment for me and my family, and I am so excited about what the future may hold."