Mainz 05 take football development work to Cape Town and support freestyle championship

Bundesliga club 1. FSV Mainz 05 continued its football development programme in Cape Town last week, combining academy coaching sessions for local players and coaches with support for the South African Freestyle Football Championship.

The German club delivered practical training camps and coaching discussions before partnering with Rheinland-Pfalz Gold at the V&A Waterfront, where South African freestyle footballers competed in a public showcase event.

The activity forms part of Mainz 05’s continuing work in South Africa, which focuses on grassroots football, coach education and partnerships with local organisations. Mainz 05 and Rheinland-Pfalz Gold have previously backed football camps and coaching clinics in the country, and have broadened their international partnership for the 2025/26 season.

Camps for players and coaches

The first camp was held at Nexgen Football School, where 85 players aged between under-10 and under-18 were introduced to Mainz 05’s coaching methods. Local coaches also took part in discussions and exchanged ideas about player development.

Nexgen was established in Cape Town in 2014 as a grassroots football school designed to develop young players through coaching and create opportunities beyond local competition. The organisation is led by its founder, Justin Tantaal.

Mainz 05’s programme then moved to Badgers Football Academy, extending the coaching and development exchange to another football community in the city.

Badgers was founded in 2017 as a women’s football club and is run by women for girls and women. Its work aims to improve access to the sport by providing inclusive and supportive opportunities to play, alongside coaching, mentorship and routes towards personal and sporting development.

The third camp took place at Hellenic Football Academy, a club with longstanding connections to Cape Town football.

Hellenic was founded in 1958 by Greek South Africans and became one of South Africa’s leading teams during the 1970s. The club won the national championship in 1971 and has also maintained a strong focus on youth development in Cape Town.

Freestyle football takes centre stage

The programme concluded at the V&A Waterfront, where Mainz 05 and Rheinland-Pfalz Gold supported the South African Freestyle Football Championship.

The event provided local champions with a prominent public venue in which to compete. Freestyle football combines close ball control, athletic ability and creative performance, allowing competitors to display their skills to a wider audience.

Previous South African Open championships at the Waterfront have included national competitors and provided a pathway towards international competition.

The combination of community-based football camps, coach development and the freestyle event reflects Mainz 05’s repeated engagement with the South African market. Its wider international programme includes grassroots camps, coaching clinics and community activities in the country.

Founded in 1905, Mainz 05 is an established Bundesliga club with a recognised youth programme and a stated commitment to community engagement. Its work in Cape Town connects the club’s development experience with local players, coaches and football organisations.