Ubuntu Football

What Ubuntu Football does

Ubuntu Football is a Cape Town-based non-profit organization that develops young footballers through an integrated six-year Academy program for boys and girls aged 12-18, combining elite football training, on-site academic education through the Ubuntu Academy School (Grades 7-12, approximately 60 learners), character formation mentorship, and residential care for 30 boys. Founded in 2009 by Casey Prince and Michael Jenkins and formally launching the Academy in 2011, the organization serves talented youth from South Africa's disadvantaged communities who lack access to quality football coaching, education, housing, and role models. Programs operate across multiple Cape Town sites — Masiphumelele (Chasmay Campus), Fish Hoek, Mitchell's Plain, West Coast, and Southern Suburbs — with full operational relocation planned to the newly acquired Hoogeind Manor property in Somerset West by end of 2026.

The Academy is the core product, surrounded by Skills Schools (open-enrollment coaching for ages 7-12) at three locations, the 22-move "1,000 Touches" ball mastery curriculum, an ABC Motsepe senior team in the Provincial league, coaching courses delivered to partner clubs and Local Football Associations, Football Forward community satellites in surrounding communities, a fully launched Girls Program (2023-2024), and a Leadership College alternative education track. Proprietary program IP includes Technical Director Dave Waters' "Dual Dream" dual-career framework (codified as a published book), the Future Ready character curriculum with badge system, and the "3D Coaching Model" taught in partner-facing coach education courses. The technical stack is human-coaching-centric; no software product, AI feature, API, or SDK is disclosed, and outcomes are delivered via on-site staff, house parents, coaches, and educators.

The business model is a dual-entity non-profit: the South African Ubuntu Football Trust (PBO with Level 1 B-BBEE status) and the US Ubuntu Football, Inc. (501(c)(3)). Revenue is generated primarily through a tiered recurring donor program — Teammates contributing approximately $6,000/month from 80+ donors, Midfielders at $5,000+/year, Captains at $10,000+/year on five-year commitments (currently seven contributing $105,000/year), and MVPs at $50,000+/year covering an entire age group of nine boys. Secondary streams include coaching course fees (R4,125 base for 15 coaches), corporate sponsorships (Allan Gray, King Price, and others), and indirect value capture through player transfers (notably Munashe Garananga's €4 million move to FC Copenhagen) and US scholarship placements (22+ graduates). Donations are tax-exempt in both the United States and South Africa, with companies receiving B-BBEE points for contributions.

Name

Ubuntu Football

Legal name

Ubuntu Football Trust

Website

https://ubuntufootball.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ubuntu Football is a South African non-profit operating a six-year holistic youth football Academy for ages 12-18, combining elite training, Academy School education (Grades 7-12), residential care, and character mentorship, funded by tiered donor programs in the US and South Africa.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Sports Development / Football Academy Services

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Educational Support Services (611710)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Sports Boarding Schools & Residential Academies (MPAKAJAL), Youth Athlete Development & Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) (HSADAEAE), Youth & Scholastic Sports Organizations (K–12, AAU, Club Leagues) (MPAKACAF)

Keywords

• Youth football academy
• Football skills training
• Coach education courses
• Youth sports development
• Academy residential program

Headquarters

HQ city

Cape Town

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Individual Donations and Sponsorship Programs: Ubuntu relies on individual donor programs at multiple tiers: Teammates (monthly donors ~$6,000/month from 80+ donors), Midfielders ($5,000+/year or $400+/month covering one student), Captains ($10,000+/year committed for 5 years, 7 captains giving $105,000/year), and MVPs ($50,000+ covering an entire age group of 9 boys). Donations are tax-exempt in both the US (501c3) and South Africa (PBO).
2. Coaching Course Fees: Ubuntu offers coach education courses delivered by the Technical Director to clubs, Local Football Associations, and communities. Base cost of R4,125 for 15 coaches (R275 each), with additional coaches at R200. Printed manuals at R75 each.
3. Football Player Representation and Pathways: Ubuntu generates value through player transfers and scholarship placements. Notable transfer: Munashe Garananga moved for €4 million to FC Copenhagen. Multiple graduates secured professional contracts with PSL clubs and scholarships to US universities/colleges, creating indirect revenue through visibility and donations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Ubuntu Football operates a holistic six-year youth football academy program for boys and girls aged 12-18 that integrates elite football training, on-site academic schooling (Grades 6-12), character formation mentorship, and residential care for 30 boys. The organization also runs open-enrollment Skills Schools for ages 7-12, senior ABC Motsepe league team play, community-based Football Forward satellite programs, a Girls Program, and paid coaching courses for partner clubs and Local Football Associations.

Product overview

Ubuntu Football is a holistic youth football development organization operating as a platform-plus-programs architecture. The core offering is the Ubuntu Football Academy—a six-year mentorship program for players aged 12-18 that combines elite football training, the Ubuntu Academy School (Grades 7-12), Academy Residence (housing 30 boys), and character formation programs. Supporting programs include Skills School (ages 7-12), 1,000 Touches skill development, ABC Motsepe senior team, Leadership College alternative education, Football Forward community satellites, Girls Program (launched 2024), and Coaching Courses. The organization functions as an integrated youth development ecosystem rather than a standalone software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ubuntu Football Academy A six-year holistic mentorship program for exceptional young football players aged 12-18, combining elite football training, academic education through the on-site Academy School, character formation programs, and residential care for up to 30 boys.
• Skills School Open private coaching programs for boys and girls aged 7-12 at three Cape Town locations (Mitchell's Plain, West Coast, Southern Suburbs), teaching ball mastery, 1v1 attacking/defending, small-sided games, and life skills.
• Coaching Courses Four-hour coach education courses led by Technical Director Dave Waters, delivering Ubuntu's coaching methods and the 3D Coaching Model to clubs, Local Football Associations, and communities. Base cost R4,125 for 15 coaches.
• ABC Motsepe Senior Team Senior football team competing in the Provincial ABC Motsepe League, combining Academy U18 players with experienced older players to create career pathways to NFD and PSL clubs and employment opportunities with partner companies.
• Football Forward Community-based satellite football programs operating in various communities around Cape Town, focusing on skill and character development for 6-11 year olds and serving as a talent identification pipeline.
• Girls Program Youth football program launched offering U12 and U14 girls teams and invitations for girls to join the full Academy program, expanding holistic development opportunities for female players.
• Ubuntu Academy School A registered independent private school offering education from Grades 7-12, serving approximately 60 learners with a focus on academic excellence integrated with football and character development.
• 1,000 Touches Ball Mastery Program

Quantifiable outcome

• School pass rate of 92.5% (2017-2023) vs South Africa's average of 82.9%
• +7 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• FK Bodø/GlimtflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 8 February 2021Ubuntu entered a unique collaboration with FK Bodø/Glimt, Norwegian premier league champions and current titleholders. Bodø/Glimt's 'Action Now' environmental commitment aligns closely with Ubuntu's social mission. The partnership provides Ubuntu's best players with international development opportunities outside South Africa, while both clubs share values of social impact beyond football. Bodø/Glimt's GM Frode Thomassen stated they see great potential in the partnership, particularly around social values and commitment. Ubuntu co-founder Jenkins described Bodø/Glimt as 'a perfect match' given their uniqueness in their respective contexts.
• Sun Valley Group of SchoolscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012Partnership with Sun Valley Group of Schools established in 2012 to provide educational support for Ubuntu Academy boys. Before Ubuntu opened its own school in 2017, this partnership enabled Ubuntu to sponsor and tutor its players through local schools, with Coach JP personally tutoring players during their matric year.
• Fish Hoek Association Football ClubcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2011Ubuntu Football was founded with a partnership with Fish Hoek Association Football Club. In its early years (2011-2014), Ubuntu played under the Fish Hoek AFC name in tournaments and leagues. This initial partnership provided Ubuntu with league registration and tournament entry points before Ubuntu established its own organizational identity.
• Telecommunications Company (ABC Motsepe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerA local telecommunications company based in Cape Town provides employment opportunities to ABC Motsepe players alongside their football careers. This creates dual career pathways for players who may not make it professionally, addressing South Africa's high youth unemployment rate.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Aspire Academy: Qatar-based residential sports academy combining elite training, education, and life-skills development for talented youth athletes. Comparable in integrated curriculum and residential care model, though with multi-sport scope.
• Right to Dream: Holistic residential football academy in Ghana with similar integrated model combining elite football, education, and character development; like Ubuntu, it places graduates at top European clubs. Most directly comparable academy globally in mission and structure.

Broad incumbents

• FK Bodø/Glimt: Norwegian Premier League champion and Ubuntu's flagship international partner. Comparable via shared values-based player development philosophy and a track record of integrating African talent into European football.
• FC Barcelona La Masia: World-renowned residential football academy combining elite sport with schooling and personal development. Broad incumbent reference point for holistic football academy model at global scale.

Regional players

• Cape Town Spurs (formerly Santos FC): Cape Town-based club with youth football programs in the Western Cape; competes in the same regional talent pool as Ubuntu's academy and skills schools.
• SuperSport United Youth Academy: PSL club whose academy signed Luke Fleurs as Ubuntu's first graduate into South Africa's top flight. Comparable on the football-development axis within South Africa.
• Mamelodi Sundowns Youth Development: South African PSL club with a multi-tier youth academy producing players for PSL and European leagues. Operates in the same domestic market and competes for similar talent, though without Ubuntu's integrated schooling and residential model.
• Stellenbosch FC Academy: Western Cape-based PSL club with a notable youth academy that has signed multiple Ubuntu graduates. Overlaps on player pipeline and is the most direct regional football-club competitor in Cape Town.
• Orlando Pirates Youth Development: Major South African PSL club with a long-running youth development program competing for similar talent across South Africa. Comparable on talent identification and professional pathway objectives.

Others

• South African Football Association (SAFA) Development: Governing body overseeing national youth football development and academies across South Africa. Functions as the broader ecosystem and policy-setting entity in which Ubuntu operates, rather than a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Ubuntu_Football
• Facebookfacebook.com/ubuntufootball
• Instagraminstagram.com/ubuntucapetown
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ubuntufootball

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles12 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ubuntu Football