Mainz 05 and Rheinland-Pfalz Gold bring football development and South African Freestyle Championship to Cape Town

The programme combined practical football camps and coaching theory with a public competition platform. It reflects Mainz 05’s ongoing engagement in South Africa through grassroots development, coach education and local partnerships. Mainz 05 and Rheinland-Pfalz Gold have previously supported international football camps and coaching clinics in South Africa, and the partners have expanded their international collaboration for the 2025/26 season. 

1. Nexgen Football School camp

The Nexgen Football School camp introduced young players to Mainz 05 coaching methods, while giving local coaches an opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss player development. with 85 players from under-10 to under-18 taking part alongside coaches. 

Founded in Cape Town in 2014, Nexgen is a grassroots football school focused on nurturing young talent through coaching and creating opportunities beyond local competition. It is led by founder Justin Tantaal. 

2. Badgers Football Academy camp

The programme continued with a camp at Badgers Football Academy, bringing Mainz 05’s coaching and development exchange to another Cape Town football community.

Badgers began in 2017 as a women’s football club and is run by women for girls and women. Its work centres on widening access to football through inclusive, supportive playing opportunities, coaching, mentorship and pathways for personal as well as sporting development. 

3. Hellenic Football Academy camp

The third camp took place with Hellenic Football Academy, extending the programme to a club with deep roots in Cape Town football.

Hellenic was established in 1958 by Greek South Africans. The club became one of the country’s leading sides in the 1970s, winning the national championship in 1971. Its Cape Town structure has also placed a strong emphasis on youth development. 

South African Freestyle Football Championship

The programme culminated at the V&A Waterfront, where Mainz 05 and its partner Rheinland-Pfalz Gold supported the South African Freestyle Football Championship and gave local champions a prominent public platform to compete.

Freestyle football blends ball control, athleticism and creative performance. A championship at a high-profile public venue gives competitors the chance to showcase their skill to a wider audience and can help raise the profile of the discipline and its athletes. Previous South African Open championships at the Waterfront have featured national competitors and offered a route toward international competition. 

The sequence of football development programmes and the freestyle event shows how Mainz 05 is activating in the market through repeated, community-level engagement. That consistency can build trust with local clubs and coaches over time, while giving young players and freestylers meaningful opportunities to learn, perform and connect with the game. This builds on the club’s broader international programme, which includes grassroots camps, coach clinics and community activity in South Africa.

Founded in 1905, Mainz 05 has grown into an established Bundesliga club with a recognised youth programme and a stated commitment to community engagement. Its Cape Town activities bring that development experience into direct contact with local players, coaches and clubs.