Two of our recently opened Cruyff Courts in South Africa are equipped with an advanced water harvesting and filtration system beneath the field, providing the local community with fresh drinking water.
In South Africa, communities face challenges such as drought and water scarcity, while saline soil often creates additional obstacles for building sports fields. The innovative ‘Catch-Store-ReUse’ system collects rainwater, purifies it, and stores it in a container next to the field. A tap on the outside of the container allows the purified water to be accessed for use.
Susila Cruyff attended the opening ceremonies of the innovative pitches and shared her thoughts: "My father always said that we can create change through sports, and I believe this water purification project truly makes that possible."
Coaching Course
Prior to the openings, 16 new South African coaches were trained to maximize the potential of the Cruyff Courts and create a positive impact in the townships. During the three-day training to become a Cruyff Foundation Coach, local sports professionals were introduced to Johan Cruyff’s philosophy and learned to coach in the Cruyffian way. The training was not only aimed at professionals for the new fields but also focused on preparing coaches for other Cruyff Courts in South Africa.
Festive & sporty opening!
The fields were inaugurated in the presence of many children, parents, and our partners. Of course, there was plenty of sports activity! At the opening of the Cruyff Court Rhiza Orange Farm, professionals from Kaizer Chiefs, a South African football club from Johannesburg, were present. It was an unforgettable day for the children!
Only possible thanks to committed (local) partners
The Cruyff Court in Orange Farm is located near Johannesburg, in the Orange Farm township. This Cruyff Court was established in collaboration with our partner Afrika Tikkun, which uses the Cradle-to-Career 360° program to help transform communities. The other two projects were made possible through partnerships with Rhiza and Greensource. Rhiza is dedicated to the sustainable and holistic development of disadvantaged communities in South Africa, while Greensource provided funding for the water regulation systems installed beneath the two Cruyff Courts.
Our projects in South Africa
The total number of Cruyff Courts in South Africa now stands at 10, and we also support various sports projects for children and young people with special needs. Additionally, a large team of enthusiastic local Cruyff Foundation Coaches has been trained to activate and engage the youth.
Interested in supporting new projects in South Africa?
The Cruyff Foundation aims to expand further in South Africa. While sports may not always be a top priority in daily life there, it can serve as a powerful tool to connect children and entire communities, helping them move forward.
Want to contribute?
Contact our colleagues Farid Gamei at farid@cruyff-foundation.org or Cherryll Prins at cherryll@cruyff-foundation.org.