A 16-year-old Hilton College pupil has been given an opportunity of a lifetime to attend a trial at English Premier League champions Manchester City.
Goalkeeper Constandino ‘Costi’ Christodoulou, who also plays in the reserve team for PSL outfit Maritzburg United, is trying his luck at the Citizens at the moment.
Maritzburg announced on their Twitter account on Tuesday that Christodoulou is “currently on trial” at the Etihad, where he is likely to compete for a place at their academy.
Christodoulou is an accomplished goalkeeper, and is the South African Under-17 captain.
Hilton College allows him to play for Maritzburg United in the MultiChoice Diski Challenge – where he is the youngest ever to play at that level – whenever he is not turning out for the school.
“Best of luck Costi! Our star teenage, goalkeeper Constandino ‘Costi’ Christodoulou is currently on trial with English Premier League champions Manchester City. #WeAreUnited” Maritzburg United tweeted on Tuesday.
Best of luck Costi! 🤙
Our star teenage, goalkeeper Constandino ‘Costi’ Christodoulou is currently on trial with English Premier League champions Manchester City. #WeAreUnited pic.twitter.com/KzyV7kKOtQ
— Maritzburg United FC (@MaritzburgUtd) November 13, 2018
Christodoulou is on a two-week trial, and will hope to follow in the footsteps of the last South African goalkeeper to play in England, Andre Arendse, who turned out for Fulham and Oxford United between 1998 and 2000.
Before that, Gary Bailey – who was born in England, but grew up in South Africa – played for Manchester United from 1978 to 1987, also earning two international caps for England.