SAFA teams up with Bundesliga to launch Bundesliga Dream South Africa

By SABC Sport
27th October 2026

The South African Football Association (SAFA) and the Bundesliga have joined forces to launch Bundesliga Dream South Africa, a landmark development program designed to nurture and elevate elite youth talent from South Africa, which concluded Monday, 19 October.

Bundesliga Dream South Africa saw the national Under-16 team participate in high-performance training camps hosted by two of Germany’s top clubs, providing the country’s best players with access to world-class academy facilities to help the younger members of the squad prepare for the upcoming FIFA Under-15 World Cup in Azerbaijan.

The fortnight-long program hosted by FC Augsburg, then Arminia Bielefeld included advanced technical training sessions, competitive friendly matches, and cultural exchange experiences aimed at developing sporting excellence and personal growth.

The inaugural edition of the Bundesliga Dream South Africa is a cornerstone project of the strategic long-term Memorandum of Understanding signed by the SAFA and the Bundesliga earlier this year. The collaboration between the SAFA and the Bundesliga is anchored around local football development and further focuses on commercial strategy and sponsorship, fan engagement and brand development, media training, and technical expertise for on- and off-field topics.

After landing in Germany, the South African squad trained at and played friendlies against the academy of FC Augsburg and witnessed the hosts’ first-team hold FC Bayern München to a draw, which saw the fastest goal in Bundesliga history.

Off the field highlights included deep personal exchanges and insights from Augsburg professional players Chrislain Matsima and Juma Bah, as well as Academy player Milo Adleff, who is on the brink of making the Bundesliga squad.

The youngsters from South Africa then spent the second week hosted by Arminia Bielefeld, where South African legends Delron Buckley, Sibusiso Zuma and Rowen Fernandez made decisive steps for their international careers.

Buckley, who is deeply committed to talent development in his home country and a Bundesliga pundit for broadcaster SABC, accompanied the squad in Bielefeld, giving inspiration for a career in football. Built around the training and friendly match program, the team were also pitchside at Bielefeld’s local derby against VfL Osnabrück, soaking up the unique atmosphere.

“This initiative represents a significant step forward in our commitment to youth development,” said Molefi Ntseki, Technical Director of the SAFA. “By partnering with one of the world’s leading football leagues, we are creating meaningful international pathways for our players to grow, compete, and succeed on a global stage.”

This is the first time the Bundesliga Dream project has been launched in Africa after previous editions have already been established in countries across Asia.

“Bringing Bundesliga Dream to Africa for the first time is an important step in our long-term partnership with South African football,” said Peer Naubert, Chief Commercial Officer of Bundesliga Media.

“Together with SAFA and our clubs, we want to give young players valuable international experience, while building closer connections between football in South Africa and Germany. This programme is a tangible example of how we are developing our presence in Africa – through football development, local partnerships and stronger engagement with fans.”

SABC Sport has also signed up as the official media partner of Bundesliga Dream SA, ensuring extensive coverage of the South African youngsters’ time in Germany. Through broadcast and digital platforms, SABC Sport plays a key role in showcasing the journey and sharing the impact of the program with football fans across South Africa.

Bundesliga Dream South Africa is the latest chapter in the Bundesliga’s long-standing commitment across the African continent. Earlier this year, Bundesliga Media also extended its partnership with Amandla Safehub to deliver a Youth Football Night League Series in Johannesburg, combining football in a safe environment with educational programs.

Club tours have also brought the Bundesliga directly to the Rainbow Nation, with RB Leipzig visiting South Africa in 2026, following in the footsteps of FC Augsburg in 2024, creating valuable touchpoints with South African fans.

The Bundesliga is also the first European league to launch a League Pass offering in Africa, giving millions of fans in South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria another way to watch the Bundesliga live on their mobile devices.