Stellenbosch FC and Bafana Bafana midfielder Jayden Adams shares an insight into his talent, his upbringing, and where he stands in his football career today.
Check it out!
What's the story?
Sports agency, Forwardzone, launched a new web series titled; "Ones To Watch" and featured one of their top clients, Jayden Adams in the first episode.
The episode gives us a look into Adams' upbringing and his journey to professional football, with his parents also expressing their pride for the Stellies talent.
Read: Youngster Mofokeng Leaves Fans In Awe!
Let's take a closer look...
Getting to know Jayden Adams
Young midfielder Jayden Adams is one of the brightest talents we have in Mzansi and he's proving it on a weekly basis for the high-flying Stellenbosch FC.
Having made 31 appearances in all competitions this season, Jayden has managed three goals and eight assists and is an important cog in Steve Barker's Maroon Machine.
With clubs like Mamelodi Sundowns reportedly chasing his signature, the 23-year-old has a bright future ahead of him and it took a lot of sacrifice and hard work for him to reach this point.
Adams' consistent performances for his club and earned his first call-up to the national team this season and formed part of the 2023 AFCON squad that finished in 3rd-place in the Ivory Coast.
As mentioned by his agency, Adams' story is one that many South African footballers can relate to, born in humble beginnings and dreaming of playing for his favourite football team.
"The most important people, growing up, in my life are my parents. Because they were there to encourage me, give me advice and to tell me to go to training, school, sometimes I didn't want to, but I had to," said Adams, who had his father to constantly push him.
The young baller grew up in Idas Valley in Stellenbosch and according to his father, Juanito, he started kicking the ball as soon as he could walk and started playing at age 5.
"We would always playing in the backyard and I was always pushing him, pushing him. When he was 3-years-old, the field was packed with family and friends and he didn't want to play, at five-years-old, then he started playing," said his father, Juanito.
Juanito also mentioned how Jayden started playing with children three or four years older than him, with his father mentioning how that gave the Stellies star the confidence he needed to push further.
He's described by his parents and coaches as someone who is humble, shy, caring, protective, with his previous coaches at Stellies tipping him to have a successful career beyond South Africa's borders.
"I'm very very proud of Jayden," said Jayden's mother, Candice, who added that the young baller shares many of her characteristics:
"Jayden is a very quiet person. [He] doesn't like to speak, he doesn't like the media and that stuff — I guess I'm also like that."
As part of his pre-match routine, Adams reveals to Forwardzone that a video call to his loved ones is an important part of his pre-match routine.
"I think that's a challenge for a young player like me, being away from my family a lot, especially my daughter. I want to reach the highest level, so you need to do these things.
"When it's a big game for me, I just tell myself, 'You just go out there and do your best, do everything you can and the game will take it from there," said Adams.
Read: Ex-Bafana WC Star Clears Up Divorce Rumours
Watch below:
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