University refurbishes Mamelodi football court in R1.35m project

The University of Pretoria has refurbished its Mamelodi Campus football court through a R1.35m project aimed at creating better conditions for grassroots football and expanding opportunities for young people in the community.

Originally built in 2010 as part of the Fifa World Cup legacy projects, the court has long served as a community sports hub.

Its refurbishment includes a new 24m x 36m artificial turf pitch, with synthetic turf brought in from the Netherlands, and reinforced steel fencing.

Local coach Petrus Malobola said restoring the court would help young people develop their football skills while opening up opportunities beyond the sport.

“As someone from Mamelodi, having this court here means a lot to me,” Malobola said.

“I am a member of the South African Football Association in Tshwane, but I am also a boy from Mamelodi. We train young people, identify talent, and help them access university and other opportunities,” he said.

The refurbished court will host structured after-school football sessions for players from under-11 to under-19 levels, while its location at Mamelodi Campus creates opportunities to connect grassroots sport with higher education.

The project brings together UP, Rhiza Babuyile, the Johan Cruyff Foundation and the Dutch embassy to support youth development through sport and education.

For the local football community, the upgrade also renews a facility associated with the development of sporting talent in Mamelodi.

Bongani Motsapi, first vice-president of the Tshwane Regional Football Association, recalls seeing Banyana Banyana star Hilda Magaia train at the court when she was younger.

For Robbert Popken, director of Rhiza in the Netherlands, such initiatives provide a way to engage young people and encourage positive alternatives to social challenges.

“Our sports projects and collaboration with the Johan Cruyff Foundation are important because they give us access to communities and help young people stay away from gangs and violence,” Popken said.

Dutch ambassador Joanne Doornewaard highlighted the wider community value of accessible sports facilities.

“These places are not just for sport; they are also meeting points for the community,” she said.

The court’s location on Mamelodi Campus also creates an opportunity to connect grassroots sport with higher education, as the university setting can help make further study and alternative career pathways more visible.

Dr Edwin Smith, manager of campus operations and acting director of Mamelodi Campus, said the facility could encourage young people to look beyond sport when considering their futures.

“Not everyone will become a professional footballer, but young people can come to the university, pursue further studies, and build careers in other fields,” Smith said.

The refurbishment gives Mamelodi’s football community a renewed facility to develop sporting skills and nurture talent.