The aim of Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development is to identify players with excellent football skills and assist them in achieving their football ambition while also empowering them with academic enrichment. We produce quality players for the Kaizer Chiefs senior team in order to sustain the success of the club and also contribute to various national teams in the country.

Overview

The Youth Development was started around the 1970s operating from Soweto and later had its base in Rockville to accommodate all the players from around Soweto. It was then known as Kaizer Chiefs Reserve side and attracted most of its players from Rockville and surrounding areas of Soweto. It was from this base where players like, Rider Mofokeng, Wellington Manyathi, Doctor Kumalo, Brian Baloyi, Thabo Mooki, Ntsie Maphike and Trevor Mthimkulu were identified. Today some of these players are coaches in the Youth Development and others are still household names in their own rights.

The Reserve Side then evolved in the 1980s to include other junior teams like the under-10 and under-12 Chappies Little League that produced players like Tshepo Molatedi as well as the Toyota U21 where players like Isaac Kungoane were discovered. The main reason for playing in these competitions was to attract players outside Soweto and also to market the Kaizer Chiefs brand.

In 1996 Kaizer Chiefs forged working links with one of the top universities in South Africa, Rand Afrikaanse University which had an image of being a white University to blend the image of the two organisation and produce a true South African partnership. The RAU Chiefs Development was based on true partnership of exposing football players to an institution that had all facilities in education, psychology, and welfare as well as being part of a renowned Football Club.

This relationship produced a number of interesting results both academically and in sporting world. A number of players from the Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development were awarded certificates in Sports management as well as one degree while the following players emerged from the Academy: Jabu Pule, Kaizer Motaung Jnr, Isaac Mabotsa, Thabiso Malatsi, Nhlanhla Kubeka, Nhlanhla Mathebula, Gerald Sibeko, Buti Sithole, Junior Kanye and recently Lucky Mzizi. Other players who graduated from the academy and could not be accommodated in the senior team where loaned to other teams while some players like Patrick Thwala were sold outright.

The Youth Development used RAU infrastructure in the form of soccer fields, psychologists, physiotherapists and other facilities including accommodation.

The objective was to attract the best and promising youngsters around South Africa and this was achieved by the club’s largest network of passionate supporters.

In 2003, the Youth Development was attracting a number of younger players from the ages of 12 years into the Programme. This necessitated a new approach as the schooling and the housing of these players. To achieve that, the Youth Development moved to St. Barnabas College in Bosmont which offered a one stop facility for training, schooling, boarding and lodging for our younger players. St Barnabas College was chosen for its good academic record over the years. In the past year, the club has moved some of their players doing Grade 12 to Meadowlands High School in Soweto and their presence has elevated the standard of soccer at the school.

In 2006, the Youth Development achieved one of the major milestones when it partnered with the Gauteng Department of Education (GDE) and Central Johannesburg College to form an alliance that would allow Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development to have exclusive use of the Central Johannesburg College sporting facilities at Highveld College including soccer fields, gymnasium. This partnership also included the moving in-house of the Youth Development players to have exclusive use of the 180 bed hostel, the kitchen and dining facilities. With this relationship, Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development will be able to reach the local communities, thus imparting football knowledge as well as other life skills to the community.

This agreement also opens all academic facilities within the control of Central Johannesburg College to Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development. These facilities include Life Skills Programme, Computer Training Facilities, Engeneering (Electrical and Civil), Arts and culture, plumbing and bricklaying.

Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development is now a fully fletched academy with players from the ages of 12 to 18 years. The players who come from outside Johannesburg who were previously housed at St Barnabas and the Club House in Auckland Park have now been relocated to Highveld College resident.

The Youth Development is supported by a structure of highly qualified staff in their various disciplines starting from management, education and coaching.

The Administration

Vincent Williams – Manager Youth Development Programme whose overall responsibility is to oversee all activities of the Youth Development

Adison Bongani Mngadi – Education Manager whose responsibility is total education responsibility within the Youth Development.

Abe Ditsego – Transport Manage and House father who is responsible for all transport logistics in the Development including responsibility for boarding and lodging of players.

Benett Mehlomakhulu – Kit Manager responsible for players kit and uniform

Joe Matebege - Kit Manager responsible for players kit and uniform

Coaching Staff

Johannes Rider Mofokeng – Goalkeeper trainer and stand in coach for all teams

Donald Ace Khuse - Reserve Side and Under-19 Coach

Doctor Khumalo - Under-17 Coach

Ntsie Maphike - Under-15 coach

Jacob Terror Sephooa – Under-13 coach

In 2006, the Youth Development and the whole soccer fraternity lost Patrick “Ace” Ntsoelengoe who was our under 15 coach at the time of his death.

The staff is constantly in touch with players looking after their welfare, schooling and medical needs. Regular interface between parents and the Development staff is encouraged thus helping bridge the gap of players being home sick. This is done in the form of formal meetings or by telephone.

Youth Development Achievements

Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development players have been involved in a number of local as well as international tournaments as a team or the players being part of a National structure.

Our players were part of a group that represented South Africa in France in 1998 in an International Youth Competition in which they were knocked out by Argentine in the final. Some players were involved in the Danone Competition in France 2002 and were knocked out in the semi-final by Holland.

In June 2003 the Youth Development Under 15 team was invited to participate in The Milk Cup competition in Ireland. Our team played against most youth teams from the English Premier Division Clubs and was knocked out in the final by Maccabi Heifa from Israel.

A number of players impressed the scouts in this tournament and one of our player, Michael Nkabule has been signed by Straussberg Academy in France.

In 2004, the Under 15 team won the National Nike Tournament and went to play in the International Manchester United Premier Cup in Manchester, England.

During 2004, our teams won the U15, U17 and U19 local league titles with the U13 being placed second. Earlier in 2005, the U17 competed in the Zayed International Youth Cup in Abu Dhabi. Our team came third in this competition with bronze medals.

The Kaizer Chiefs U13 Development team competed in the MDC International Youth Tournament in Seoul, Korea in June 2005 where they played against National teams from Korea, Paraguay and Japan. They were beaten in the finals by Japan National team and were awarded FIFA Fair Play Shield and Silver medals.

In June 2006, Kaizer Chiefs Youth Development U19 side competed in the Hong Kong Sevens Football tournament. This is a seven a side tournament played in Hong Kong by most of the European and Asian teams.

In August 2006 the Under-17 team was invited to compete in a U17 World Tournament in Spain. In this tournament teams from as far as South America and Europe were invited and Kaizer Chiefs was the only team from South Africa. Our performance in this tournament was excellent as Real Madrid in the quarter finals.

The Youth Academy reports their developments directly to the Kaizer Chiefs management on a regular basis and the senior team technical staff always provides the necessary support. Senior team players recovering from injuries are sometimes allowed to train with the Reserve team in the Academy as well as getting involved in playing friendly games with the Youth teams. This is used as a bridging exercise to enable the junior players to acclimatize themselves with senior players. At other times, some Development players are also allowed to train with the senior team as well as playing against the senior team.