The All Bantwana Stars Football Club in Pienaar seeks to nurture young boys through recycling and developing their skills in the sporting code.
The head coach, Trunelda Ngobe, known as Mama Africa, founded the club in 2021. Her aim was to provide a safe and educational environment for boys to spend their extra time in.
“There are a lot of boys who hang around spaza shops after school and during school holidays. I took it upon myself to start the football club so that they can keep busy after school,” Ngobe said.
She went from house to house around Emoyeni in Pienaar and asked parents to register their children in the club. She currently has kids who make up four teams, U11, U13, U15 and U17.
“We do not only teach them football, but also discipline and responsibility. We need to raise children who are respectful and who value education. All this takes place at our home ground in Emoyeni.”
While teaching the children how to be better people, she has taught them about recycling to earn a living.
“I am unemployed, so I collect tins and cans to recycle and earn some money. I started this club with the money I got from recycling. Together with the players, we have formed a team of recyclers so that we can buy equipment and pay for transport when we go to competitions,” she said.
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Ngobe said All Bantwana Stars is a developing club that needs a lot of help. “Most of these children’s families are underprivileged and cannot contribute to the club. It is difficult because we rely on what we already have which is not much. We do not have a proper kit that fits the kids and equipment.”
“This is a challenge because they have so much potential to become the best players in the area. We were disqualified in some leagues because of such issues,” Ngobe said.
The assistant coach and student at the University of Mpumalanga, Clifford Ndlandla said, “Another challenge we face is the people who promise to help us but never do. We are constantly being given empty promises.”
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Ndlandla said they are working hard to make the club a successful one. “The vision is to get our club in leagues like the SAB, Vodacom and eventually the PSL,” he said.
