South Africa: Inside the football-mad township ‘too dangerous’ for scouts to visit

The ‘DIY’ football set-up found in Khayelitsha is not uncommon around South Africa.

Despite football having an estimated 10 times as many fans as rugby here, and arguably the best professional league in Africa (their domestic Premier Soccer League), there are still big challenges at the most basic stages of the grassroots game.

To start addressing these issues, Fifa, through its partnership with Grassroot Soccer, set up 20 centres around the country during 2010, using the language and draw of football to raise awareness of wider issues, including sexual health and community values in young people.

“The Football for Hope Centre in Khayelitsha played a huge role in the transformation of a very dangerous space into a safer ground for that community,” said a Fifa spokesperson.

“As with all 20 centres throughout Africa, it includes a building for community activities focusing on education and public health, as well as a small-size artificial football pitch.

“Financial support continues to this day via the Fifa Foundation community programme as well as the 2010 Legacy Trust. The Legacy Trust was funded by Fifa to support the development of football in South Africa as well as for social development through football in communities like Khayelitsha and at other Football for Hope Centres across the continent.”

But despite the efforts of Fifa and Grassroot Soccer, the scale of the communities in need across South Africa means there are always likely to be worthy causes that miss out on such support.

“With only a handful of balls between four teams, there’s a lot of running for the boys sometimes!” said Madondile.

“There was a lot of enthusiasm around the 2010 World Cup for sure. [Then-Fifa president] Sepp Blatter left big money, but we don’t know where it’s gone.

“There are projects here and there, and lots of talk, but it never quite reached as far as it could have done.

“In future, I would like to see people working together more, and sharing fairer opportunity. But for now, whatever is happening at that level, we just focus on what we can achieve here every day.”