You are looking for fun and regular child soccer training sessions in Somerset West? Then the YB Stars program is the perfect fit for you! We are always happy to welcome new players of any skill level. The money earned will be used for our NGO.
Changing Lives
Young Bafana is a non-profit organization (NGO) that has been dedicated to the holistic development of children and young people from poor backgrounds in South Africa since 2010 by offering a comprehensive range of soccer and educational activities.
You are looking for fun and regular child soccer training sessions in Somerset West? Then the YB Stars program is the perfect fit for you! We are always happy to welcome new players of any skill level. The money earned will be used for our NGO.
… Menschen in der Region um Kapstadt leben in Townshops (Armutsvierteln).
… der Erwachsenen Einwohner ist nicht erwerbstätig und erhält keine Förderung vom Staat, dennoch müssen sie für die Grundbedürfnisse Ihrer Familien aufkommen. Oft führt diese vermeintlich aussichtlose Situation zum Drogenmissbrauch und zur Kriminalität.
… Südafrikaner zwischen 15 und 49 Jahren ist mit HIV infiziert. Es fehlt grundsätzlich an breitgefächerten Bildungsmöglichkeiten, der Begegnung mit anderen Bevölkerungsgruppen und an einer ausreichenden medizinischen Versorgung.
#Soccer
Scouting von talentierten Spielern und die Ausbildung von professionellen Fussballspielern.
#Education
Ein ergänzendes schulisches Bildungsangebot, Mathe- und Englisch Unterricht, erhöht die Chancen zur späteren Ausübung eines Berufes oder dem Besuch einer Universität.
#Lifeskills
Das Erlernen von notwendigen Lifeskills (sozial und pädagogisch), durch klar definierte Akademie-Regeln und ein professionelles Umfeld.
#Nutrition
Basierend auf einem strategischen Ernährungsplan möchten wir jeden unserer Performance-Spieler zu einem gesunden körperlichen Wachstum verhelfen.
… people in the Cape Town area reside in townships.
… of the adult population are unemployed and receive no government support, however, they have to come up for the basic needs of their families. Often, this supposedly hopeless situation leads to drug abuse and crime.
… South African between the age of 15 and 49 is infected with HIV. There is a lack of wide-ranging educational opportunities, encounters with other population groups and sufficient medical care.
#Soccer
Scouting well disciplined children who have the desire to become football players.
#Education
An educational outreach programme including Mathematics and English lessons, increases the chances of tertiary education access and career opportunities for the children.
#Lifeskills
Learning necessary life skills (social and educational), through clearly defined academy rules in a professional environment.
#Nutrition
Based on our strategic nutrition plan we want to ensure a healthy growth for all of our players.
We offer holistic soccer and education programs for kids (male / female) between 6 and 18 years.
Age groups U12 / U14 / U16 / U18
The players of the HPL (High Performance League) teams consist of talented football players, most of whom come from the surrounding townships. All township players receive a
free full scholarship including playing and training equipment, food packages after each session, transportation and a complementary educational program, as well as participation in
life skills events. Periodized training sessions are held 3-4 times a week. In the High Performance League we compete against (youth) teams from the 1st and 2nd South African leagues, among others.
Age groups U12 / U14 / U16 / U18
Through qualified teachers, Young Bafana offers English tutoring for the U12 and U14 age groups. In addition, we offer a career counselling program for the players of our U16 and U18 teams. For all teams, Young Bafana offers life skill workshops at regular intervals, which are also integrated into soccer training, among other things. Ultimately, our programs have a direct and indirect impact on the socially weaker population of the Helderberg region.
Age groups U9 / U11
The YB Stars program was created by our U12 head coach Jonny Chamaille (holder of the UEFA B license). The 2-3 weekly sessions focus on basic soccer techniques. For the participants, a special added value lies in the individual attention of the coaches and the small group size (max 10 players). Important basic elements of soccer are developed creatively and with a lot of fun.
Age groups U9 / U14
2-3 times a week we offer training and game sessions for players between 5 and 14 years old after school. To promote cultural exchange, we have regular sessions or events where the school teams participate together with the performance teams. In this way, children from townships and children from better-off areas come together in the spirit of sport. The income from the social teams helps us to cover the running costs and the free offer for township players.
15 January 2026 – 20 March 2026.
My role was set up roughly 50/50. In the mornings I was involved in the developmental and operational side of the academy, helping out with all kinds of administrative tasks. The afternoons were dedicated to football, either coaching the youngsters or training and playing with the senior team myself.
From the very first day, the experience felt incredibly positive on every level. Everyone was open, kind, and welcoming, happy to chat and engage. There was no real hierarchy; everything simply flowed. Within the first week I was already coaching, playing, and engaging with other volunteers, and after only one or two days I knew the time ahead was going to be amazing. All in all, this was one of the best experiences I’ve had in a long, long time, arguably unparalleled for me, and it is an experience I will carry with me for a lifetime.
Two things struck me on a personal level. The first was the vulnerability of the surroundings, particularly for the children coming in from Lwandle Township to play football. It is a reality completely different from how I grew up in Germany, and one that is genuinely difficult to witness. At the same time, I have enormous respect for the effort these kids put in just to be in a safe environment and play the game. The second was the locals I worked and coached alongside: despite financial hardship, everyone was incredibly welcoming, open, and positive throughout my entire time there. That contrast with what I’m used to in Germany, where people tend to be wealthier but not necessarily warmer, is something I will carry with me for many years to come.
It is not official yet, but the biggest lesson is that in Europe there really is no such thing as material risk. People in South Africa live under such different conditions that I find it hard to see meaningful risk in things like changing cities, changing jobs, or changing my hobbies. In my mind, the internship has opened up a few new corridors and given me extra flexibility in how I think about life in general, because in a privileged European environment the limits and the supposed risks are far smaller than they look. That is something incredibly valuable for the career to come.
My biggest learning is that being happy, and allowing yourself to be happy, has nothing to do with money, and everything to do with the people around you and what you do throughout the day. It might sound like a platitude, something everyone says, but I have seen it up close. That deeply impressed me and will stick with me for a very long time. The other thing, less a new learning than a confirmation, is just how enormous the power of football is to bring people together and to serve as a foundational building block in the lives of so many people who have very little. Football really is one of the greatest things this earth has to offer.
What comes to mind is one of the happiest stretches of days I’ve had in a long time. Pure freedom. The weather was great, the days were filled with football, football, football, and the people around me lived and breathed the game. It was a chance to dive deep into a complex but incredibly warm and welcoming culture, with people who are extra kind precisely because they are born and raised with football. For me, it was the great freedom period in the middle of my sabbatical from work in Germany.
Yes. I’m still in contact with one or two coaches who are currently with the academy, as well as a number of volunteers who were there during my time. I’m also lucky enough to be taking part in another charity cup with Young Bafana in the coming month, which will give me the chance to see people I came across in South Africa and meet some new faces from the Young Bafana universe.