At just 19-years-old, Naqeeb Bowers has already travelled a football road many aspiring players can only dream of.
The talented goalkeeper, currently on the books of Lamasia FC, has progressed through some of South Africa’s most respected development structures and is now looking to make his mark in the highly competitive ABC Motsepe League.
Football runs deep in the Bowers family and Naqeeb’s journey began at the age of 10 with FC Real, a club founded by his uncle, Bevan Bowers. From there, he joined the Sundowns Little League Sunday Programme before moving to Football Elite, founded by former Moroka Swallows and Black Aces defender Ashraf Hendricks.
The teenager’s stock continued to rise during a successful two-year stint with SuperSport United, where he announced himself as one of the country’s brightest young goalkeeping prospects. Bowers was crowned Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the prestigious VW Under-13 Tournament after helping his side finish as runners-up.
A brief spell at Panorama followed before one of South African football’s biggest institutions came calling. At just 15, Bowers joined the Kaizer Chiefs Academy, where he spent five years progressing through the club’s development structures.
“I went from the Under-15s to the Under-17s and eventually captained the Under-19 side,” Bowers told No Bones with Jones.
His leadership qualities and performances also earned him a call-up to Chiefs’ DStv Diski Challenge squad, where he was part of the club’s title-winning 2024/25 campaign before spending a further season with the reserves.
Bowers was released from Chiefs after five years and is now wearing the colours of Lamasia where the young shot-stopper has made a promising start to life in senior football.
“I’ve received two man of the match awards already,” Bowers pointed out. “We’ve played two games, won one and drawn one. We’re only three points behind the leaders, so hopefully we can continue the momentum and challenge for promotion,” he said.
Bowers describes himself as a modern goalkeeper, comfortable with the ball at his feet and capable of contributing to build-up play, attributes sharpened during his years at Chiefs.
“The way Chiefs play, goalkeepers are heavily involved in possession. That helped me become confident playing as an extra outfield player,” Bowers stated.
Bowers’ biggest strengths?
“Using both feet and one-on-one situations,” he explained. “I stay calm, read the situation and trust my instincts and reactions.”
Despite his tender age, Bowers has no shortage of ambition.
“In the next five years, I see myself playing in the PSL or, God willing, earning an opportunity overseas.”
The passion for football clearly runs in the family. His father, Reza Bowers, is a respected former footballer who starred for Juventus FC in Mitchells Plain and also featured in the prestigious Bayhill Premier Cup for Bayhill United.
Currently, Reza is a successful businessman based in Johannesburg, while Naqeeb’s mother has built a career in the digital industry.
With a strong football pedigree, elite academy upbringing and unwavering belief in his ability, Bowers appears to have all the ingredients required to forge a successful career between the posts.
For now, though, his focus remains firmly on helping Lamasia push for promotion and proving that his journey to the ABC Motsepe League is merely the beginning of a much bigger story.
