A Special Reunion Through Bundesliga Dream South Africa

Under the guidance of Arminia’s coaches, he continued to develop his skills and make significant progress.

In 2023, Oku became the first player of the Programme to travel to Bielefeld with his family to experience the club firsthand. 

During their visit, he took part in several training sessions, attended an Arminia first-team match, enjoyed meet-and-greet opportunities with Arminia legends such as Tom Schütz and other professional players, and gained exclusive behind-the-scenes insights into the club. 

It was an unforgettable experience that has stayed with him to this day.

After his father get a job opportunity in the Netherlands, Oku earned a place in the youth academy of FC Eindhoven, where he continued to develop his talent. 

This year, he reached another important milestone by making his debut for the Netherlands U15 national team — an impressive journey that began with Arminia Bielefeld’s Football Development Programme in South Africa.

“Oku’s journey is a fantastic example of what we want to achieve with our Football Development Programme in South Africa. Our ambition goes far beyond football training. We want to create meaningful opportunities for young players, support the development of local coaches and build sustainable partnerships that have a lasting impact on the communities we work with. Seeing Oku progress from our weekly training sessions in Johannesburg to the Netherlands U15 national team makes us incredibly proud. His story demonstrates the potential of this programme and motivates us to continue investing in the development of young talent in South Africa“, said Nico Luft, director Sales at Arminia Bielefeld.

Oku’s father, Aubrey Ngewnad, also highlighted the importance of the programme and the family’s special visit:

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“The Arminia Football Development Programme in South Africa is unique, sustainable and highly professional. It has played an enormous role in my son’s development, and we are incredibly grateful to the club for the outstanding work it is doing in South Africa. The programme continues to evolve and creates a lasting impact for South African children and coaches. The collaboration with the Gauteng Legislature, in particular, demonstrates the strength of the relationships and the level of trust Arminia has built through its work in Johannesburg. We are very proud to be here today and to watch the match between Arminia and the South African U16 national team.”

Oku’s story illustrates how a locally rooted development programme can create opportunities that extend far beyond the pitch, connecting young talent with international football and opening up new pathways for the future.

A delegation from Arminia Bielefeld will return to Johannesburg early next month to hold further discussions with local partners and implement additional initiatives. 

The visit will build on the programme’s existing foundations, strengthen partnerships and support the continued development of sustainable football opportunities  in South Africa.