Posted in News, Team News on Aug 03, 2019.
Yagan Sasman was announced as the team’s latest signee as Amakhosi are about to kickstart the 2019/20 PSL season.
Sasman describes himself as a young and upcoming player from Grassy Park in Cape Town. He started playing football at the age of four,” says Sasman.
He says he was influenced by his brother, who was a good footballer. “I followed my brother’s footsteps,” says Sasman. My brother is Raul (Sasman) and he played for Peninsula FC in Grassy Park league. I recall when I was five, they went to play in a tournament in England. They won that tournament and that immediately sparked my football interest.”
Yagan started playing for Peninsula FC’s U-9 team and stayed on for four years. “I played in an U-9 tournament in Wynberg as a center-forward. In the semi-finals I scored a hattrick. I did not have an idea that the scouts from Ajax CT were at the match. After the tournament our coach, Wagied Ceres told me I was invited for trials at Ajax.
“The trials at Ajax were scheduled for a period of a month. Ajax offered me a junior contract through my parents. It was an easy process because my parents knew already that Ajax had one of the top development academies in the country. Everybody was ecstatic and supportive about the move,” recounts soft spoken Sasman.
He did not know at the time that would be a 13-year journey with the Urban Warriors.
“It is was not an easy ride going through the stages of development at Ajax. The assessment was done every year and it was tough. I am a left footer and as you know there are not many left footed defenders. I think that gave me an edge over the other boys. The coaches played me as a left back. I wanted to stay at the club, so I followed their instructions and agreed to play in any position they saw fit. At Ajax you had to play at least three positions. I played left back, midfield and center back,” he recalls.
During this period at Ajax Football Academy, Sasman continued to attend school at Norman Henshilwood School where he passed his Grade 12 with bachelors.
“At seventeen I signed a semi-professional contract and started playing in the ABC Motsepe League (2nd division),” continues Sasman, before sharing one of his finer career moments. “At eighteen I went to Ajax Amsterdam where spend a month training with the U-19s. I experienced football at a different and high level. While still in the Netherlands, Ajax CT came to play in the U-19 Copa tournament. I played centre-back partnering Rivaldo Coetzee who now plays for the PSL side, Mamelodi Sundowns.”
The tall and defender was promoted to the senior team at the age of nineteen. “Roger de Sa was the coach at the time. However, I only made my debut for Ajax CT under coach Stanley Menzo against SuperSport United. The match took place at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in the 2017/18 season. I had a perfect game away; we drew the game 0-0.”
In the 2018/19 season Sasman played in NFD League after Ajax CT were relegated. Remarkably, he featured in all 30 league games. “Unfortunately, we missed the play-offs by one goal,” laments Sasman.
Sasman joined Amakhosi for the team’s pre-season camp and later signed a three-year contract.
“On the eve of my birthday (9th July),” Sasman takes us through the move from Cape Town to Kaizer Chiefs, “I received a phone call. My agent told me to book a flight to Johannesburg. I was nervous, I was prepared though. Overnight, my brother came over to discuss the move and we sort of had an early birthday celebration.
“I wanted to be a part of the Kaizer Chiefs family,” he confesses. “I struggled a bit in the first few days due to a change of environment and climate. The warm welcome made it a bit easier though. Lebo Manyama for example, knew me personally because he played at Ajax CT at one stage. I went through the camp wondering what the outcome would be.”
He admits that he was super excited during the Carling Black Label Cup and was itching to be on the field. However, he could not feature as he was not registered for the competition and could not be voted for by the fans.
Sasman has been handed the Gold & Black jersey number 20.
“I am happy to be here as a part of the Amakhosi team. I want to prove to the club that it was not a bad decision to sign me,” concludes Sasman, “I have heard many people say the players from Cape Town struggle when they play for Johannesburg teams. I believe every player is different and will work hard to make success of this opportunity.”
He thanked the supporters for the warm welcome and promises to give it his for the Glamour Boys .
Sasman describes himself as a young and upcoming player from Grassy Park in Cape Town. He started playing football at the age of four,” says Sasman.
He says he was influenced by his brother, who was a good footballer. “I followed my brother’s footsteps,” says Sasman. My brother is Raul (Sasman) and he played for Peninsula FC in Grassy Park league. I recall when I was five, they went to play in a tournament in England. They won that tournament and that immediately sparked my football interest.”
Yagan started playing for Peninsula FC’s U-9 team and stayed on for four years. “I played in an U-9 tournament in Wynberg as a center-forward. In the semi-finals I scored a hattrick. I did not have an idea that the scouts from Ajax CT were at the match. After the tournament our coach, Wagied Ceres told me I was invited for trials at Ajax.
“The trials at Ajax were scheduled for a period of a month. Ajax offered me a junior contract through my parents. It was an easy process because my parents knew already that Ajax had one of the top development academies in the country. Everybody was ecstatic and supportive about the move,” recounts soft spoken Sasman.
He did not know at the time that would be a 13-year journey with the Urban Warriors.
“It is was not an easy ride going through the stages of development at Ajax. The assessment was done every year and it was tough. I am a left footer and as you know there are not many left footed defenders. I think that gave me an edge over the other boys. The coaches played me as a left back. I wanted to stay at the club, so I followed their instructions and agreed to play in any position they saw fit. At Ajax you had to play at least three positions. I played left back, midfield and center back,” he recalls.
During this period at Ajax Football Academy, Sasman continued to attend school at Norman Henshilwood School where he passed his Grade 12 with bachelors.
“At seventeen I signed a semi-professional contract and started playing in the ABC Motsepe League (2nd division),” continues Sasman, before sharing one of his finer career moments. “At eighteen I went to Ajax Amsterdam where spend a month training with the U-19s. I experienced football at a different and high level. While still in the Netherlands, Ajax CT came to play in the U-19 Copa tournament. I played centre-back partnering Rivaldo Coetzee who now plays for the PSL side, Mamelodi Sundowns.”
The tall and defender was promoted to the senior team at the age of nineteen. “Roger de Sa was the coach at the time. However, I only made my debut for Ajax CT under coach Stanley Menzo against SuperSport United. The match took place at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in the 2017/18 season. I had a perfect game away; we drew the game 0-0.”
In the 2018/19 season Sasman played in NFD League after Ajax CT were relegated. Remarkably, he featured in all 30 league games. “Unfortunately, we missed the play-offs by one goal,” laments Sasman.
Sasman joined Amakhosi for the team’s pre-season camp and later signed a three-year contract.
“On the eve of my birthday (9th July),” Sasman takes us through the move from Cape Town to Kaizer Chiefs, “I received a phone call. My agent told me to book a flight to Johannesburg. I was nervous, I was prepared though. Overnight, my brother came over to discuss the move and we sort of had an early birthday celebration.
“I wanted to be a part of the Kaizer Chiefs family,” he confesses. “I struggled a bit in the first few days due to a change of environment and climate. The warm welcome made it a bit easier though. Lebo Manyama for example, knew me personally because he played at Ajax CT at one stage. I went through the camp wondering what the outcome would be.”
He admits that he was super excited during the Carling Black Label Cup and was itching to be on the field. However, he could not feature as he was not registered for the competition and could not be voted for by the fans.
Sasman has been handed the Gold & Black jersey number 20.
“I am happy to be here as a part of the Amakhosi team. I want to prove to the club that it was not a bad decision to sign me,” concludes Sasman, “I have heard many people say the players from Cape Town struggle when they play for Johannesburg teams. I believe every player is different and will work hard to make success of this opportunity.”
He thanked the supporters for the warm welcome and promises to give it his for the Glamour Boys .
