Sundowns go global: Motsepe launches Soccer Schools in SA and UK

Mamelodi Sundowns chairman Tlhopie Motsepe has officially ushered in a new era for grassroots football in South Africa.

In a high-profile launch in Midrand on Friday afternoon, the reigning Betway Premiership powerhouse announced the establishment of the Mamelodi Sundowns Soccer Schools, a landmark partnership with Global Soccer Schools International (GSSI).

The collaboration brings together one of the continent’s most decorated professional clubs and South Africa’s premier grassroots development organisation, creating a massive network designed to identify and nurture the next generation of footballing talent.

The scale of the project is unprecedented in South African club football. The Mamelodi Sundowns Soccer Schools will immediately become home to over 6,000 children, with branches across South Africa and even overseas, in Manchester, United Kingdom.

Catering to boys and girls aged 4 to 15, the program aims to provide a professionalised pathway from the playground to the podium.

Mamelodi Sundowns partner with GSSI to launch nationwide Soccer Schools

“This partnership brings alignment of football development into the soccer schools and Junior Academy space,” said Nick Aresti, Founder and Technical Director of GSSI. “By combining our experience in grassroots coaching with the professional structure of Mamelodi Sundowns, we believe we can create a meaningful development environment.”

Proven Success Stories

The GSSI programme already boasts an elite track record. Notable graduates who have passed through the system include:

Shandre Campbell: The South African U20 international currently plying his trade for Club Brugge in Belgium.

Munashe Mugwara: A rising star within the Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies team.

Camden Schaper: The history-maker who became the world’s most expensive 14-year-old upon joining Blackburn Rovers (currently awaiting a move to Chelsea).

More Than Just Professional Players

While the ultimate goal is to find the next Hlompho Kekana or Themba Zwane, Chairman Tlhopie Motsepe delivered a resonant message to parents and media, emphasising that the program’s success won’t be measured solely by professional contracts.

“Youth football is incredibly important to us—and of course, we hope these children may one day become professional footballers,” Motsepe stated. “But success is also measured by how many young people fall in love with the game. South African football needs coaches, referees, and businesspeople who will contribute to its growth. What matters most is that every child leaves here with joy, friendships, and a lifelong love for the sport.”

The program is designed to be inclusive, catering to children of all skill levels. However, for those with exceptional potential, the Mamelodi Sundowns Youth Academy remains the ultimate destination. The soccer schools will act as a vital feeder system, ensuring that no talent goes unnoticed in the club’s quest for continued continental dominance.