Ubuntu Football Academy in Cape Town have announced a collaboration with Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt.
It is exactly ten years ago that the academy was founded by Michael Jenkins and Casey Prince. They have produced a number of very good young footballers over the years, with the most high profile being the SuperSport United pair of Luke Fleurs and Jesse Donn.
Fleurs and Donn were part of those early days, and four seasons ago, with the pair in the need of senior football, the academy bought a National First Division franchise. They competed in the league for two seasons before being relegated to the ABC Motsepe division. By that time both players had gone to SuperSport.
However the academy has continued to produce stars, and they are the current national Engen Under-19 champions (The tournament was last played in 2019).
Many of these young players could now see their first professional contracts happen in Norway, as the two clubs have formed a partnership that, “is about far more than just football players and sporting success, as they combine forces and collaborate across the continents to meet new challenges and reach new goals,” read the statement.
“We are very happy that we have started the collaboration with Ubuntu. We see great potential, not only related to sports, but to the clubs’ social values and commitment,” general manager of Bodø/Glimt, Frode Thomassen was quoted as saying.
“We looked for a club partner where our best players can continue their football development and careers outside South Africa, but first and foremost we looked for a club that had the same values as us. Glimt’s “Action Now” commitment is unique. In the same way that we feel Ubuntu is a little bit unique in South African football, Glimt are a unique club in Europe, and a perfect match for us,” Jenkins said.
In ten years Ubuntu has made a huge impact on the Cape Town football scene, but also within the community. Their academy is also a school, and while some player/students have turned professional, many others have gone to the USA on scholarships.