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.

10 Teams.

One hundred and eighty players.

One YB Arena *new*

#WeAreYoungBafana

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Hot: The latest YB News

THIS IS HLONELA SITENGE

"Prof" tells his story

It is important to highlight our players here at YB who excel beyond the pitch. Hlonela Sitenge - better known as “Prof” - is just one example of our exceptional players. Outside of the pitch, Prof is known for his excellent academic marks. At 17 years old and playing for YB’s U18 squad, he is exceptional on and off of the pitch.

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3RD DIVISION PROFESSIONAL SOCCER

YB Pro enters the ABC Motsepe League

Young Bafana is excited to announce our acceptance into the renowned ABC Motsepe League for the 2022-2023 season. During the years of dreaming up YB’s growth in the Helderberg area, having one of our own professional teams has always been a goal. Finally, the day has come and we are so thankful for this opportunity to grow not only Young Bafana but the game of soccer.

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EYONA NDONDO

Eyona Ndondo becomes the first YB Player to debut in the South African first division

We can hardly put our happiness and pride into words. Eyona Ndondo (nickname: Yoyo) was the first player from our ranks to make it into the 1st South African League. On the first match day (continued after the Corona break), it came on August 14 in the game against Chippa United, probably the greatest sporting moment since our foundation in 2010.

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The Dream became Reality

YB Arena Opening

On the 23rd of April 2022 we reached the next big milestone: We officially celebrated the YB Arena Opening. It is the perfect facility for the development of our kids, in terms of soccer and education. Read more about the YB Arena Opening Event in our blog post.

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Join our training program

YB Stars

You are looking for fun and regular training sessions? Then the YB Stars program is the perfect fit for you! We are always happy to welcome new players of any skill level.

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#changinglives

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Mission Statement

What are we fighting against?

  • In the Cape Town region there are approximately 2,5-3,5 million people residing in the townships.
  • Almost half 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.
  • One in five South Africans between the ages 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.

What do we want to achieve?

  • Our goal is to break the vicious cycle of poverty through sport and education and to boost cultural exchanges between the different population groups in the Helderberg region.
  • We accompany our players on their personal life path, get them off the streets as children and effect the best possible influence on their development as persons and athletes.
  • We create opportunities and promote each child individually. Together with you we increase the chance for a better future, free from poverty, crime and drugs.

How do we pursue our goal?

  • Learning necessary life skills (social and educational), through clearly defined academy rules in a professional environment.
  • An educational outreach programme including Mathematics and English lessons, increases the chances of tertiary education access and career opportunities for the children.
  • The coupling of school and sports achievements in the form of a periodic training plan, which monitors progress and development on a daily basis.
  • Scouting well disciplined children who have the desire to become football players.
  • The sharing of social values like team-spirit, discipline and respect, as well as medical support through soccer programs.
  • A multicultural team, in which we embody the positive role model.

This is Young Bafana

We offer holistic soccer and education programs for kids (male / female) between 6 and 18 years.

Soccer

Soccer Scholarship

We give talented players from underprivileged backgrounds a chance to develop both personally and professionally.

  • 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.

Soccer

Education and Life Skills

On and off the soccer field, education is the central theme to give players a realistic chance
for a successful future.

  • 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.

Soccer

Young Bafana Stars

The training for ambitious soccer players who want to improve their skills at an early age.

  • 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.

Soccer

Social Teams

Have fun and make new friends. Our team that welcomes everyone.

  • 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.