Farouk Khan tells of sacrifices at new Stars of Africa facility launch

The former Kaizer Chiefs, Mamelodi Sundowns and Santos coach has ensured players will continue being provided with private schooling and development training at The Atrium in Melville, Johannesburg.

Khan has been running the academy for two decades, having given up a plush salary to follow his passion.

"I think I chose the route of youth development simply because I think everybody wants to coach a professional team. I had been there for a short while – both as assistant and head coach, and I think during that time I was blessed to be involved with clubs that won lots of silverware," said Khan.

"In my first tenure at Santos, in the first season, I was able to win the Absa Cup alongside Boebie Solomons and end in a respectable position in the league.

"But the calling was there – I think it was a calling in the sense that when I got back from Santos, Kaizer Motaung and his wife came to fetch me from Sundowns, and said, 'Listen, have you sold your house?'

While at Sundowns, Khan revealed he was collecting R60 000 a month in win bonuses at the time, only to walk away in pursuit of building the next complete player. 

"When I read this, I'm humbled because I don't like to talk about what Stars of Africa is, but I think it is only proper to mention that the role the Academy has played – in this humble beginnings that started with 11 boys, sleeping on mattresses in a converted house in Mayfair," he said.

"We didn't have any funding, and my partner at the time – Nadim sold his car, it was an Audi, to get enough money so that we could keep this academy going.

"I left a job where I was paid handsomely by Patrice Motsepe, my win bonuses were in excess of R60 000 per month – just win bonuses."

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