Delmas– On a dusty pitch in Delmas Extension 3, where the air smells of grass after rain and boys chase dreams barefoot, the name Blessing Pinash Ngavi is spoken with pride. At just 22 years old, he commands respect from players twice his age.
He is a coach, a mentor and a brother to many.
But his journey to leadership was not smooth sailing, it was pain and sacrifice that shaped his journey. As a teenager, Ngavi’s future seemed written in the rhythm of the game.
Quick on his feet, sharp in vision, he dreamed of stadium lights and roaring crowds. Then a car accident in 2017 left his left leg and hand fractured. He underwent surgery and spent five months on crutches, watching his dreams fade.
His playing days were gone before they could even begin. “For me, football was everything. When the accident happened, I thought it was the end of my journey with the sport,” he recalls.
His love for football was unwatched that he refused to let his circumstances deter his ambitions. If he could not play, he would lead those on the football pitch.
In its sixth year of existence in 2016, a Delmas football team called PJ Stars was on the verge of becoming a fading memory. From the sidelines of his recovery, Ngavi mobilised a handful of youngsters and named them Baroka. They played with mismatched boots, second-hand balls, and more hunger than resources.
Then fate circled back. In 2017, he signed Paul Jiyane, the son of the club’s founder. “Paul Jiyane started coming to our games. He saw what I was doing and gave me everything that belonged to PJ Stars: the kits, the logo, and the name,” Ngavi explains. “That’s how we officially became PJ Stars again.”
PJ Stars have faced giants like TS Galaxy, Orlando Pirates and even Kaizer Chiefs Reserve Team.
But the early days were a test of will. Ngavi used his school pocket money to buy what the team needed. It was a personal sacrifice that not only kept the club alive but also taught him the importance of discipline and saving.
By 2018, the township was buzzing about PJ Stars. The boys wore their kits like armour, stepping onto fields with the confidence of champions. That year they clinched their first Top 8 tournament title, played at Mafa Max Sports Ground in December. In front of a large, cheering crowd, PJ Stars faced Feaster Boys in the final. The match ended 1–1 in full time, and after a tense penalty shootout, Ngavi’s boys lifted their first trophy.
Their momentum carried them into the Top 32 World Cup Trophy, a fiercely contested township tournament featuring teams like Rainbow United, Young Boys, and Pride FC.
PJ Stars battled through the knockout rounds, defeating All Nation 3–2 in the quarterfinals, edging Pride FC 4–2 in the semifinals, and finally moering Lucky Boys from the N12 in the final with a commanding three-nil. Parents filled the stands, celebrating alongside the young players as the club announced its arrival.
PJ Stars rise to national stage
Their breakthrough came in 2020 at the SSD Annual Tournament in Johannesburg. Against academies like Jomo Cosmos, PJ Stars rose from the dust of Delmas to lift silverware on a national stage. They came home not just with trophies, but with dignity, new kits, and recognition that echoed far beyond Extension 3.
The victories piled up: the Mpumalanga Juniors Tournament, where both the under-13 and under-15 divisions lifted silverware, the Victor Khanye League and the SAB Promotional League.
PJ Stars had become a full academy of its own with teams for boys and girls aged 11 to under-19. The club isn’t just about trophies, it’s about opportunity. Many of Ngavi’s players have already progressed to professional setups.
His journey has also carried him beyond Delmas. He has coached with Joburg City (formerly Mpumalanga Black Aces), Ekhayalethu Raising Stars and Timmy Tigers Academy.
But trophies alone don’t define him. What makes Ngavi’s story remarkable is his resilience. “Not being able to play anymore hurt me, but coaching gave me a new purpose,” he says. “Every time I see one of my players grow, improve, or even sign with a professional team, I know I didn’t lose my dream. I just found another way to live it.”
