AmaZulu-Levante partnership opens Spain pathway for KZN & SA’s young talent

This was announced today at the Moses Mabhida Stadium, in a function attended by officials from Levante, AmaZulu President Sandile Zungu, and officials from the club. 

Usuthu CEO Sinenjabulo Zungu-Ntuli says this deal has been in the works for the past few months.

"It's been a couple of months we've been working on this, myself, Russel and Dawoni who is absent today. She's developing herself, she's doing a FIFA course. It's been an interesting journey but I think the conversations that we had with Marko who was facilitating this partnership made it very clear to us that this is the path that we should be taking,” Zungu-Ntuli said. 

“We're very excited about the partnership, it is going to come with a lot of activities and development for the young people of AmaZulu. I think like Sinesipho has already said, it speaks to the active and practical steps we are taking to ensure that our academy is at the level that we want it to be at. 

“I think it's no secret AmaZulu is the only club in KZN with a full academy, a development structure from U13 to U19 and we take pride in that. So, I'm happy to announce that AmaZulu has a partnership with Levante from Spain."

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As AmaZulu celebrate their centenary in 2032, Zungu-Ntuli says it remains their dream to do that with fully homegrown academy players in their senior team, and the partnership with Levante opens a new direction for the club, especially in terms of talent pathways for the development products.

"By the time AmaZulu reaches its centenary our ambition is for the majority of our squad to be home grown talent. Players who have grown through our system, players who understand our culture and understand what it means to wear this green badge,” she added.

“Today we take another significant step towards our vision. We are incredibly proud to announce that we have a partnership, I won't announce the name right now but it will get revealed.

“The partnership represents something bigger than a relationship between two football clubs. It represents the opening of a window between KwaZulu Natal and the international football environment. 

“It gives us an opportunity to expose our young players and our staff to international knowledge, international methodologies and international standards. This team brings experience from a football environment that has produced and developed players at the highest level, we are very excited to announce this team."