KZN Football Academy

KZN FOOTBALL ACADEMY Where Stars Are Born... 10thANNIVERSARY 2014 – 2023 The KZN Football Academy is part of a major project taking place at the Kings Park Sports Precinct on the scenic Durban beachfront. It involves the establishment of the Provincial Football Academy and an International Training Centre in close proximity to the iconic Moses Mabhida Stadium. The construction part of the project is driven by Hoy Park Management in partnership with the South African Football Association, the KwaZulu Natal Provincial Government and the eThekwini Municipality. At the heart of the Academy is the acknowledgement that football is a job creator that provides income for not only the players and their extended families, and it sustains a whole industry that services and supports the sport to this end. As more professional players are developed and produced by the Academy, the more jobs are created and poverty alleviated within the KwaZulu Natal Province and beyond. “We cannot always build the future for our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.” Franklin D. Roosevelt

KZN FOOTBALL ACADEMY TEAMS In 2013 when the Academy was formed, it started with only the U19 Team whose main UNDER 19 focus was to prepare and participate in the 2014 Durban U19 International Football Tournament. Players who participated in this Tournament were scouted throughout The U19 Team is the flagship of the KZN Football Academy since inception in 2013. Initially, the Team focused on planning, preparing the eleven SAFA Regions in KwaZulu Natal province in a marathon program that lasted for and participating in the 2014 edition of the Durban U19 International Football Tournament. In 2015, the Academy approached over 44 days on the road for first assessments. SAFA eThekwini to create space for the Team to play in the Regional Fourth Division, formerly known as the SAB League, and to affiliate to the Durban Central Local Football Association (DCLFA). Since then the Team has maintained its status in this Senior When it became clear in 2016 that there was a decline in the quality of players that Division League despite playing with young players ranging from 16 to 19 years old. The U19s also play in the Premier League of were being scouted throughout the eleven Regions of KwaZulu Natal, the Academy the DCLFA. This was done to ensure adequate game time as LFA seasons normally operate from March to September and the rolled out the U13 and U15 age groups to try to develop better quality players in-house. Regional League from around August / September. This enables the players to have almost a full year of game time. In 2018, a further two age Groups in the U11 and U17 were added, thus ensuring that the Academy was able to work with players from U11 right up to the U19 level. From the onset, exposure to international football was a crucial objective of the Team, with the aim being to fast-track the development of players while putting them in a shop window for international clubs. To this end, the Academy successfully hosted the Durban U19 International Tournament from 2014 to 2016. Top U19 sides coming to our shores were Arsenal, Everton, AC Milan, VfB Stuttgart, PSV Eindhoven, Galatasary, Boca Juniors, Santos, Roma, Fluminense, Benfica, Sporting Lisbon, TP Mazembe, Feyenoord, Rangers and Celtic. After the Tournament was discontinued, the U19 Team travelled to Portugal in 2017 and 2018 and played against Academy Teams of premier clubs like Sporting Lisbon, Benfica and Vitória de Setúbal . On the 2018 tour the calibre of players was very high and three 15-year-olds that played regularly for the Team were included. Out of five matches played, the Team won 2, drew 2 and lost one match against Sporting Lisbon. The Academy continues to work on finding a solution to bring this critical exposure element back into the development mix. A decision was also taken to have A and B Teams for U11s, U13s and U15s to ensure that all players within the Academy were given UNDER 17 adequate game time throughout the season. From having one Team, the U19, in 2014, the Academy now has the: U11 (A & B Teams); U13 (A & B Teams); U15 (A & B Teams); U17 Team and the flagship Team, the U19 which is registered to play in SAFA’s Fourth In 2018, the U17 Team was added to the KZN Football Academy family. This assisted Division. The rest of the Teams play weekly League matches under the auspices of SAFA’s Durban Central Local Football Association. in narrowing the gap between U15 and U19, allowing the technical staff to work properly with players of a similar age to prepare them for playing in the more One of the highlights was in 2019 when the Academy was declared the 2019 DCLFA JUNIOR CLUB OF THE YEAR after all the Teams physically challenging Senior Leagues at U19. won all the Competitions they participated in, including the U19 Team that won the Academy’s first trophy at Senior level, when we beat Royal Eagles to be crowned 2019 DCLFA Premier League Cup Champions! The Team has been registered to play in the DCLFA U17 League since inception. The challenges of playing against professional clubs, like Amazulu, affords the Academy The Academy Teams also participate in National and Local Tournaments to assist in fast-tracking the growth and development of players and coaches a yardstick to measure individual performances as well as group players so that they are able to compete with players of their age, who come from different environments thus assisting coaches dynamics. To date the Team has done exceptionally well. In its first year of seeing in correctly placing them. Nationally, the Academy fielded three Teams at U12, U14 and U16 age groups to participate in the 2022 competitive action, the U17s were crowned Double Champions – 2018 DCLFA Kapstadt Cup, after the 2019 participation. Locally, the Academy entered the U11, U13 and U16 Teams in the BB Pinetown Super Cup. League Winners and U17 League Cup Gold Medal Winners.

KZN FOOTBALL ACADEMY TEAMS UNDER 13 A & B UNDER 15 A & B The U13 Team was rolled-out in January 2017. This was necessitated by a growing need to produce in-house, better quality players that would feed the U15 Team and ultimately In January 2017, the KZN Academy introduced Youth Teams at U13 and U15 level to provide much needed support Junior Teams at the National level. The Team affiliated to the Durban Central Local stability and certainty in laying a solid foundation for the proper development of players in preparation Football Association and plays in the U13 League. This is a tricky and important age group for the U19 KZN Academy Team and beyond to professional football and supporting National Teams. The as players move from U11 to a much more structured way of playing at U13 level. Team is affiliated to the Durban Central Local Football Association (DCLFA) and plays against U15 Youth Teams of professional clubs like Amazulu FC. The U15 Team is one of the most successful within the Academy in terms of balancing the development of quality players to feed the U17 and U19 Teams as well as winning competitions. In the 2022 season, a number of U15 players were fast-tracked to work with the U19 Team. This followed a trend in 2018, where three U15 players travelled with the U19 Team to Portugal and all three played against strong opponents, including Sporting Lisbon. In 2018, the U15 Team was crowned Triple Champions – 2018 DCLFA League Winners, U15 League Cup Winners and U15 Champ of Champions Gold Medal Winners. In 2019, they were Double Champions – 2019 DCLFA League Winners and U15 Champ of Champions Gold Medal Winners. When football resumed after the two-year break brought on by the Covid-19 pandemic, the Team continued right where it had left off, being crowned Triple Champions – 2022 DCLFA League Winners, U15 Champ of Champions Gold Medal Winners and Winners of the Regional Hollywoodbets U15 Siyakhula Cup! UNDER 11 A & B The U11 Team was included in 2018. The introduction of the U11 age group was critical for the Academy as it allowed the technical staff to start working with players from a young age, thus being able to influence the development and growth of players from their formative years. It also gives the Academy a longer period to work with players and to provide proper influence for their technical and tactical development. There are massive benefits in laying the foundation as the Academy can ensure that the ground is solid from which to build professional players of the future. This was combined with a major decision taken by the Academy to have A and B Teams for U11s, U13s and U15s to ensure that all players within the Academy were given adequate game time throughout the season.

FROM SOUTH AFRICA’S KWAZULU NATAL PROVINCE TO THE WORLD STAGE Some of the KZN Academy graduates who have signed for overseas clubs in the past years and/or done national duty: The KZN Football Academy programme commenced Thabo Cele – Radomiak Radom, Poland – 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic in 2014 with the U-19 age group and then rolled out two additional age groups in 2017 with the U-13 and U-15 Sandile Mthethwa – 2017 COSAFA Cup South Africa, Plate Champions Teams. 2018 saw the full complement of age group teams completed with the U-11 and U-17 Teams. The Nkanyiso Shinga – 2019 AFCON U-23 Egypt Qualifier Academy serves as a launching pad for players being recruited at a young age to signing with international Swelihle Mthiyane – 2020 (2021) Tokyo Olympic Games clubs as well as doing duty for the National Teams. Sibusiso Shibane Sphephelo Sithole - Chippa United, South Africa – 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup Korea Republic Buhle Damane – 2017 COSAFA Cup South Africa, Plate Champions Nkanyiso Ngcebo Nala – FC Estrela da Amadora, Portugal – 2016 COSAFA U-17 Cup Mauritius, Runners-up Shinge Menzi Ndwandwe Sphesihle Ndlovu – 2016 1st BRICS U-17 Tournament in Goa, India Khumbula Duma Sandile Masondo – SC Viana do Alentejo, Portugal – 2017 U-20 Tournament with England and Brazil Reagan Marais Simo Mbhele – FC Oliveira do Hospital, Portugal – 2017 U-20 Tournament with England and Brazil Mhleli Mleya Mhleli Mabuza – Os Belenenses SAD, Portugal – 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile Philani Jaca – 2022 AFCON Qualifier vs Morocco (Ivory Coast 2023) – Galitos FC, Portugal – 2018 COSAFA U20 Cup, Champions – 2019 U-20 Africa Games Morocco – 2017 U-20 Tournament with England and Brazil – 2016 COSAFA U-20 Cup, Runners-up Sphephelo ‘Yaya’ Sithole became the first – 2018 COSAFA Cup South Africa, Plate Champions Academy player to participate in a FIFA World Cup™ when he represented South – Alcochetense FC U19, Portugal Africa at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup Chile. Since 2017 he has been playing in – Alcochetense FC U19, Portugal Sandile Mthethwa (below left) and Portugal, appearing in the UEFA Youth – Monte do Trigo, Portugal Thabo Cele (below right) were the League with Sporting Lisbon. He debuted – CD Pinhalnovense, Portugal first players from the KZN Academy for Bafana Bafana vs Morocco in 2022. – Clube Olímpico Montijo, Portugal to be drafted into South Africa’s – AC Vila Meã, Portugal Senior Men’s National Team, Bafana Sphephelo Sithole – CD Pinhalnovense, Portugal Bafana, after they represented their country at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Sibusiso Cup Korea Republic™. Shibane Thabo Cele From Ulundi With the backing of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Legacy Trust, the U-19 Elite Team undertook two to Portugal’s Primeira Liga in 2021 international tours to Portugal in 2017 and 2018 (right), exposing the players and staff to best to South Africa’s Bafana Bafana in 2022 international practices and work environments. Playing against the likes of Sporting Lisbon U-17, Vitória de Setúbal U-19, Estoril U-19 and Benfica U-17 proved invaluable and led to numerous signings for the Academy’s graduates with the junior sides of these European giants. The teams were also able to visit heritage, cultural and historical sites in their host country.

DURBAN U-19 INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT 2014, 2015 and 2016 EDITIONS To complement the activities of the KZN Academy and offer the students a truly enticing performance goal, the Durban U-19 International Football Tournament was formulated and supported by the same partners. The first edition of the event was played from 31 July to 09 August 2014 and featured eight teams, namely the KZN Academy XI, the SA U-19 National Team, Benfica (Portugal), Roma (Italy), Everton (England), Feyenoord (Netherlands), Boca Juniors (Argentina) and Santos (Brazil). For Durban and KwaZulu Natal, this prestigious Tournament not only gave the public an opportunity to see some of the most talented young players from the world’s best known clubs, but also and more importantly, it provided a chance for the best young footballers from KwaZulu Natal and South Africa to play against their international counterparts. This provided a good barometer for local football to test players’ levels against top teams from around the world and moreover, a shop window for Academy players to be showcased to those same teams with a view to being scouted. It also provided an economic boost and global television broadcast coverage and exposure for the stunning coastal/port city of Durban and the magnificent KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa’s playground. The Tournament’s eight-team format, played towards the end of July to the first week of August, coincided with the South African and European pre-season period, thus attracting top international teams. The last Tournament was played from 28 July to 06 August 2016 and saw invited international club sides Arsenal (England), the defending champions, TP Mazembe (Democratic Republic of Congo), Rangers (Scotland), Sporting Lisbon (Portugal) and Fluminense (Brazil) taking part. For the first time since its inception in 2014, the event included a local Premier Soccer League Team, Lamontville Golden Arrows. Arsenal FC successfully defended their title at King Zwelithini Stadium, beating the SA U-19 National Team 3 - 1. Out of the three Tournaments, 2015 was the best year for the KZN Academy Team. From having zero points in the first year and three points in 2016 (beating the eventual Champions, Arsenal FC), the Team amassed four points (the same as semi-finalists Arsenal and SA U-19 National Team) and scored four world class goals, three in its opening match vs PSV Eindhoven. The KZN Academy Team just missed a semi-final berth on goal difference.

FUTURE PLANS The KZN Football Academy programme is part of a bigger project that is planned for Durban, which will see the construction of an International Training Centre and Football Academy to be a nursery for development. After years of waiting for processes to be completed in order to lease the earmarked property, Hoy Park Management was finally granted the lease on 1 December 2018. “The power of education The way the facility is designed, it will allow for businesses extends beyond the development to operate alongside football fields, a High Performance of skills we need for economic success. Centre, accommodation, etc. Part of the rent received from It can contribute to nation-building the businesses will be ploughed back into running the Academy. Additional income from other marketing and and reconciliation.” advertising activities will be derived as well. A sustainability model is in place. Nelson Mandela In January 2023 KZN Football Academy embarked education. This is fully integrated with projects and courses which create a holistic, collaborative learning on an exciting new partnership with Brave Generation experience to prepare learners for the future. BGA’s unique and innovative learning model incorporates a Academy (BGA). Instead of a single isolated campus blend of digital and on campus learning in order to obtain the benefits of both methods; it focuses on Brave Academies comprise a network that integrates the personalisation of education and allows students to identify their passions and empowers them to own with the community, democratizes education for its their learning. learners and allows for students and faculty to be located in multiple destinations. BGA offers a flexible Matthew Knuckey curriculum that is recognized by the world’s leading Academy Manager universities as the gold standard of international Ntokozo Ngcobo Administrator Bayanda Mthembu U19 Coach Mduduzi Shange U17 Coach Xolani Mbatha U15 & U13A Coach Thabo Sishange U11 & 13 B Coach Mnqobi Xaba Goalkeeper Coach KZN Football Academy www.kznfootballacademy.co.za Lindani Majola Kit & Equipment Coordinator @KZN Academy Carlos Catalino Gugu Marawa Chief Executive Director Chief Operations Director T: + 27 (0) 63 440 6473 T: + 27 (0) 82 992 2662 E: [email protected] E: [email protected] © KZN Football Academy The information in this document is furnished on a Strictly Confidential basis and is for the sole use of the person/company to whom it is addressed The information contained herein may not be reproduced or passed to any person or used for any other purpose other than stated above.