‘Dance’ Malesela targets revival of Africa School of Excellence

Dan ‘Dance’ Malesela has begun a major rebuilding project at the Africa School of Excellence, with the experienced coach determined to restore the South African academy to the standing it enjoyed during its most successful years.

Malesela has taken charge as head of football development at the facility, which was renamed the Africa School of Excellence after being bought by Chippa United owner Siviwe “Chippa” Mpengesi through his company, Chipcor Developers, in late 2025.

The school was founded in the 1990s by former Bafana Bafana captain Neil Tovey and the late legendary coach Ted Dumitru. During its early years, it developed a number of players who went on to become household names, including Steven Pienaar, Daine Klate, Dillon Sheppard, Gabriel ‘Ninja’ Mofokeng, Shaun Potgieter, Bernard Parker and Andile Cele.

More recently, the academy has produced Relebohile Mofokeng, Emile Witbooi, Siyabonga Mabena, Kutlwano Letlhaku and Puso Dithejane.

The school went through a period of decline before showing signs of improvement, but its long-standing financial backers Transnet eventually withdrew their support. Mpengesi subsequently took over the facility.

Malesela, who has extensive coaching experience in the Premier Soccer League (PSL) and National First Division (NFD), said he had been struck by the quality of the players currently at the school.

“I have seen boys that are there and I was shocked because the talent is amazing,” Malesela told the Sunday Times.

His immediate focus is to help players in matric secure professional opportunities by next year, rather than allowing them to disappear from the football system after leaving school.

“There are kids who can still play football but they just need to up their performances. I know with this group that is here now, a lot of them will not be lost.

“For me there is pressure to ensure we fast-track the kids who are in matric this year. We need to see how we can push them so that there is understanding of what they need to do and not do, so that they can be placed.

“It will be unfortunate that a child leaves school and they are lost to football. With the other groups, we still have a year or more with them, so they are safe.”

Malesela said the progress of the younger players selected for the Bafana Bafana squad at the 2026 World Cup in North America in June demonstrated the importance of a strong development structure. That group included Mbekezeli Mbokazi, Ime Okon, Olwethu Makhanya, Relebohile Mofokeng and Thapelo Maseko.

“Having these youth structures is about helping the country, it is not only about clubs. I don’t know if it will happen in my lifetime, but one day we need to have Bafana going to the final of the World Cup.

“We cannot just be happy to say we have reached the last 32. We need to aim higher than that and it starts with development.

“It is pleasing to see emerging players turning out for the national team.”

Coaches and facilities

Recruiting properly qualified youth coaches is another priority. Malesela said working with young players required a different approach from coaching in professional football and that the backgrounds of potential staff members needed to be examined carefully.

“You need people who have experience of youth coaching. I have learned over the years that you must be careful when you select coaches.

“You need to have people you can trust will be honest to the course. You need to have people who can work with kids because it is a sensitive area.

“It’s not like in professional football where you can just shout things, you need to be careful with what you say. We also need to check people’s track records.

“I have also learned there are people who come in with the intention of making money. At the moment we only have two coaches and we are going to look for more.

“I have made recommendations and we are going to sit, discuss and finalise.”

Malesela also wants the academy’s pitches to meet international standards.

“A lot of things are being fixed and my biggest concentration is on the fields. They are not in a bad state, but we need to get them to a high standard.”

The school intends to expand its scouting network beyond urban areas, where many talented players remain unidentified. Malesela said the academy had already missed the main June recruitment period but would continue to use its existing scouting model while widening its reach.

“Already we have missed the period of June where you have time to go out and recruit. The scouting system will still be the same because I don’t think there is any other way. You just have to open up because a lot of kids are not known.”

Malesela believes the move into youth development has come at the right point in his career. His return to work with Mpengesi, for whom he coached Chippa United during three separate spells, has helped make the opportunity possible.

Mpengesi has developed a reputation for making frequent coaching changes at Chippa United, while also being known as a passionate owner. Malesela is a former captain and legend of Orlando Pirates and Mamelodi Sundowns.

“I was inquiring about some players that I saw in the township and he [Mpengesi] asked me to come and have a discussion. It was not a long discussion and we ended up agreeing for me to steer this programme and see how far it can go.

“For me it is the right thing because at the back of my mind while I was at home I thought about going back to produce players like I used to before. It has come at a time when I was contemplating this thing.”