Arminia Bielefeld programme helps take Johannesburg youngster to Netherlands U15 national team

Oku’s rise from weekly training sessions in Johannesburg to the Netherlands U15 national team began with Arminia Bielefeld’s Football Development Programme at the German School Johannesburg.

The talented youngster joined the programme after it was launched in 2022 and continued to improve under the guidance of Arminia’s coaches.

In 2023, he became the first player from the programme to visit Bielefeld with his family. The trip gave him the opportunity to train with the club, attend an Arminia first-team match and meet former Arminia players including Tom Schutz, as well as other professional footballers.

He was also given behind-the-scenes access to the club, an experience that has remained with him.

Oku later moved to the Netherlands after his father, Aubrey Ngewnad, accepted a job opportunity there. He subsequently secured a place in the FC Eindhoven youth academy, where he continued his development.

This year, he made his debut for the Netherlands U15 national team, marking another significant step in a journey that started in South Africa.

“Oku’s journey is a fantastic example of what we want to achieve with our Football Development Programme in South Africa,” said Nico Luft, director Sales at Arminia Bielefeld.

“Our ambition goes far beyond football training. We want to create meaningful opportunities for young players, support the development of local coaches and build sustainable partnerships that have a lasting impact on the communities we work with.

“Seeing Oku progress from our weekly training sessions in Johannesburg to the Netherlands U15 national team makes us incredibly proud. His story demonstrates the potential of this programme and motivates us to continue investing in the development of young talent in South Africa.”

Ngewnad said the initiative had made a major contribution to his son’s progress and praised the club’s work in the country.

“The Arminia Football Development Programme in South Africa is unique, sustainable and highly professional,” he said.

“It has played an enormous role in my son’s development, and we are incredibly grateful to the club for the outstanding work it is doing in South Africa. The programme continues to evolve and creates a lasting impact for South African children and coaches.

“The collaboration with the Gauteng Legislature, in particular, demonstrates the strength of the relationships and the level of trust Arminia has built through its work in Johannesburg. We are very proud to be here today and to watch the match between Arminia and the South African U16 national team.”

Arminia says Oku’s progress shows how a locally based development programme can connect young players with international football and create opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings.

A delegation from the German club is due to return to Johannesburg early next month for further talks with local partners and to introduce additional initiatives.

The visit will aim to build on the programme’s existing work, strengthen its partnerships and support the continued development of sustainable football opportunities in South Africa.