THE British Football Academy is coming to Durban, and Pinetown Boys’ High School (PBHS) will be the host.

This is an initiative by former learners, Zukile Madikizela and Siyabonga Mnganga. The duo have been friends for 21 years and served in the school’s leadership with Madikizela as Head Prefect and Mnganga being Head of Grade Eleven in 2013.

After 10 years, they have returned to PBHS. Madikizela is now the director of sport, and Mnganga is the chief coach of the British Football Academy.

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“We both played a lot of sport and pursued a career in sport which was inspired during our time as learners at PBHS. It is not only an honour but a privilege to be able to facilitate this partnership and create opportunities for young men,” said Madikizela.

 

About the British Football Academy (BFA)

Set up by three businessmen, John Read and Peter Coyle who are based in London, and Ian Kilbride, who is based in Cape Town, the BFA is determined to create a pathway to the English Premier League for talented young South Africans.

A collaboration has been established with Pinetown Boys’ High School which will see 15 new football scholars start at the school in January. Recruited across Mnganga, these 15 talented footballers (aged between 14 and 16) will be educated and trained in an elite football environment on a fully funded basis.

“All three founders are passionate about football and about education. Education is the lifeblood of opportunity, and sport – football in particular – can change lives and whole communities.

“Players from the whole of the world find their way to the English Premier League, but very few South Africans do. The BFA is determined to change that and give new opportunities for local boys who have the talent, drive and hunger to succeed as professional footballers. The BFA is not tied to any British Club, so it is truly independent,” said Mnganga.

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He said the strength of the founders’ sporting network gives them ready access to trials across all four professional divisions in England.

Plans are afoot to bring an academy team from Everton to Pinetown Boys’ High in 2024 and then the same from West Ham in 2025. The BFA have signed up two ambassadors to help create the elite football environment needed to create professional pathways to the UK.

Former Orlando Pirates star Daine Klate will support the coaches with the training programme once a month, and former Spurs and England international Andy Sinton has also been signed up as the BFA’s UK ambassador.

Sinton has committed to run a week-long training programme at PBHS for all of the scholars each year.

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