Arminia Bielefeld Backs Youth Football Programme in Gauteng
German second-division club Arminia Bielefeld says it will keep growing its Gauteng youth programme after a delegation visit to Johannesburg last week.
Arminia Bielefeld, a club in Germany’s second division, says it intends to keep investing in youth football in Gauteng. The pledge followed a visit by a club delegation to Johannesburg last week, iDiski Times reported.
The visitors were hosted by Crossby Primary School, which served as the pilot school for the programme. The initiative is run in partnership with the City of Johannesburg.
How the programme has grown
The project began at a single school. It has since expanded, and players from 11 schools now take part in training sessions. Coaches are also catered for, with theory sessions as part of the programme.
During the trip, the delegation went to Bolobathaba Football Academy, a partner of the club, where a match was staged. Club representatives also met potential local partners to look at ways of deepening Bielefeld’s presence in the province and its long-term involvement there.
What comes next
Bielefeld will carry on with the work through online sessions, coach education on site and player training. The club says its aim is steady, meaningful support for players and coaches in the region, built through links with schools, clubs and other partners.
Nico Luft, the club’s Head of Internationalisation, described South Africa as “a long-term commitment” rather than a short-term project. He said the club has its own NPC in the country and, working with partners, wants to create opportunities through football, education and business. He added that the club looks forward to building on the momentum from the visit in the coming months.
What this means for Gauteng coaches and schools
- The programme currently involves players from 11 schools in Gauteng.
- Coaches are offered theory development sessions, and on-site coach education is planned.
- Digital sessions will continue alongside in-person training.
- The source does not say how other schools or coaches can join, so anyone interested should wait for further announcements from the club or the City of Johannesburg.
This story is based on reporting by iDiski Times.
