28/03/2026
A proud moment for our Royal Bafokeng Sports football academy as they launch the new academy - marking a major milestone in our youth development. This is definitely creating meaningful opportunities for young talent to grow, compete, and dream bigger. This is more than an achievement; it’s the beginning of something truly great.
LALIGA and Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS), representing the Royal Bafokeng Nation (RBN), have officially launched the Royal Bafokeng Sports LALIGA Academy—a landmark partnership set to strengthen youth football development in South Africa.
Located at The Sports Campus @ Marang at the Royal Marang Hotel in Phokeng, the academy combines LALIGA’s world-class football methodology with the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s long-standing commitment to sport as a tool for community development. This initiative also supports the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s Vision 2035 (Plan 35), which prioritises investment in sport to empower local communities.
The academy will operate in a state-of-the-art environment, featuring natural and artificial pitches, a 7v7 pitch, and a High Performance Centre, creating an elite setting for training and competition.
Led by a UEFA Pro Licence Technical Director, supported by local coaches and supervised by LALIGA’s technical team in Spain, the academy will initially cater for approximately 100 players across five divisions: U14, U15, U17, U19, and a senior SARL team.
This structured programme will offer young players a clear pathway that combines high-performance training, competitive opportunities, academic stability, and advanced performance analysis technology to support their growth on and off the field.
Speaking on the partnership, Trésor Penku, Managing Director of LALIGA Africa, described the academy as a shared commitment to the sustainable development of youth football in Africa, while Emile Smith, Acting Managing Director of Royal Bafokeng Sports, highlighted the academy as a major milestone in creating opportunities for aspiring athletes through world-class coaching, mentorship, and exceptional facilities.
The partnership builds on LALIGA’s global footprint and proven success in youth development, with over 900 international sports projects across 60+ countries in the last decade. Through this collaboration, LALIGA and the Royal Bafokeng Nation are investing in the future of football by creating pathways for young talent to thrive locally and compete globally.