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THE captain of the SA Schools u/19 soccer team attends a learning institute that is intently focused on academic progress and not sport.

But this has not stopped the young man from allowing his soccer to keep pace with his studies.

Tauriq Brown, in Grade 11 at the Cape Academy of Science, Maths and Technology in Constantia, instead represents his former school, Vista Nova, in the WP Schools soccer competition in order keep his soccer ambitions alive.

"My inclusion in the SA Schools side and being named captain will inspire me to strive for bigger things," says Brown.

"I am eager to play for a top South African professional soccer club before I turn 21. After that it would be great to play in Europe, particularly in England or Spain." It is also his intention is to study nuclear science when he leaves the academy.

Young Brown's versatility sees him capable of playing defensive sweeper, midfield anchor and target man roles up front when necessary. This quality ensured him of a place in the Western Cape side that took part in the inter-provincial championship in Limpopo in October.

Western Cape placed second to Mpumalanga in the championship when they lost the penalty shoot-out 5-3, after a one-all tie.

Brown's penalty attempt was saved, but by then he had got the nod from the selectors, who announced the SA Schools u/19 side at the presentation ceremony that preceded the final.

It was not the first time his soccer prowess had been recognised. He was the recipient of the Wynberg-St John's AFC's u/17 player of the year award in October and won the WP Schools' u/16 player of the year award in 2004.

His role models and mentors? His father Ebrahim Brown and mother Quanita Omer as well as former professional Joe Lawrence and Tahier Williams, his coach at Wynberg-St John's.

Brown senior is a former WP snooker player, whose love for soccer has grown since his son started receiving the accolades. One of his commitments is to get Tauriq to train regularly from about 05:30 before he heads off to the academy.

Tauriq believes that hard work will bring success. "I like to play hard and to enjoy my soccer. But I dislike players who deliberately try to injure an opponent in tackles that could ruin their future," he says.

Which all suggests that Tauriq Brown, a fanatic fan of Ronaldhino, the skillful Brazilian international and Barcelona FC maestro in Spain, is on the right track.

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