OUR STORY
GAFA Established in 2013, The Academy has quickly become widely regarded as one of the world’s leading private residential football academies, competing on a regular basis with some of the biggest clubs and enabling talented footballers to experience the life of a full-time professional footballer here in South Africa.
As the success and level of our Academy players have grown, we’re proud to be represented by players from over 15 different countries and five continents, housing some of the top unsigned talents outside of the professional game.
We at GAFA take pride in producing skilful, imaginative, and entertaining football. We discover and develop young talent and market them to International Football Clubs in Africa, Europe and Asia. These players are trained to become great soccer stars, as they showcase just how remarkable our football Academy is.
We focus on developing and nurturing young players and ensuring they reach their full potential. By guiding players through our extensive training programmes, we produce over 30 players yearly, which we are very proud of.
We aim to provide the youths of today with a platform to show off their potential and learn new skills and techniques in football in an inclusive and safe environment, all under the guidance of our highly qualified coaching staff.
We develop players’ abilities off the pitch and on it by introducing them to experiences that will shape their development into young adults and give them life skills that they will use for the rest of their lives.
About Grandeur African Football Academy
At Grandeur African Football Academy, we understand and appreciate that not all players possess the ability to go all the way to the top of the game, and we are keen to ensure that players around the world of all abilities have a chance to experience our expert coaching delivered in Grandeur African Football Academy.
The operating model of our Academy will give you pleasure in developing your soccer career; we provide you with the opportunity to set up your very own Soccer career through the ultimate professional and dedicated coaching we offer in all areas of the game.
OUR VISION
The Academy is aimed at identifying and developing African youth who is potentially talented to play soccer and ensure that they advance to the maximum level through a high-standard concept and holistic development Programs.
OUR MISSION
Grandeur African Football Academy is committed to youth development and life skills programmes which are our social responsibility. We empower the community by assisting them through Sports programs and transforming careers events.
OUR VALUES
Experience Coaching
Our value system remains at the heart of everything we do here at GAFA, with a player-first mentality and infrastructure based on providing all our players with the best possible experience during their time in the Academy.
Mental Stability
Our coaching and backroom staff work relentlessly to provide an environment that encourages our players' personal growth and development throughout our club structure.
Controlled Recovery
We want players to leave GAFA as better football players and as more well-rounded young adults who will positively impact society.
OUR HOLISTIC APPROACH
We take a holistic approach to work at our Academy, meaning that we look at the needs of each individual, not just their mental health needs but also their physical, emotional, and social well-being.
Our backroom staff work tirelessly to ensure that our Academy players have the 24-hour access and support they deserve while they are here with us at our Academy.
The player’s well-being is and will always be the first item on our agenda, and our Staff are always on hand to listen to players’ concerns as part of our holistic service.
Our mission is to create a once-in-a-lifetime experience that the players will never forget – which is why this is a responsibility that we take seriously.
OUR METHODOLOGY
TECHNICAL SKILLS
We improve the technical level of camp attendees by helping increase the player’s knowledge and establish habits as a basis for their tactical and technological evolution.
SELF IDENTITY
We guide the player to become leaders, fostering the values of sacrifice, courage, and teamwork. The goal is that this identity has to be applied both on and off the field.
INDIVIDUALIZED TREATMENT
The development of each player is placed at the heart of each session as we look to improve all aspects of a player’s game throughout the camp.
DECISION MAKING
To enable the individual to make effective decisions and develop the speed of thought to adapt to changing scenarios and challenges each player may face in-game systems.
ACADEMY EXPERIENCE
We are providing tour Groups with a snapshot into the daily life of our Academy Players here in South Africa through an authentic experience. Does your group have what it takes to live like professionals?
OUR SUCCESS STORIES
The amount of GAFA success stories represent tremendous hard work from players and Staff alike. For many of our recruits, we understand that making it to the next level is at the forefront of their decision, and we explain to every player that this is by no means a guarantee.
For the players that can demonstrate the qualities needed to reach the next level, then opportunities will be available as proved by the status below:
3 PLAYERS HAVE BEEN invited TO PLAY FOR THEIR NATIONAL TEAM
25 GAFA PLAYERS THAT HAVE GONE ON TO SIGN AT THE PRO LEVEL
40+ GAFA PLAYERS THAT HAVE GONE ON TRIAL AT PRO CLUBS
THE GAFA STRUCTURE
Although our Academy structure may grow, we will always stay within the family ethos and value system we look to implement here at our Academy. For many of our players, attending our Academy means leaving home for the first time, and we look to provide our players with a sense of community and a “home away from home”.
And with this mentality, we take great pride in seeing our GAFA grow each year and creating new working relationships with talented players worldwide.
Our extensive alumni network can be discovered globally, with each player taking with them memories that will last a lifetime. Look at what some of our Alumni had to say about their experience with GAFA.
WHAT WE OFFER
Grandeur African Football Academy is a residential football academy based at Horizon Roodepoort, Johannesburg, South Africa, providing Football with Education, Football Only and Development Camps for aspiring footballers.
The Academy benefits from top-class football facilities, including top-quality grass and training pitches, analysis Centre and state of the art gym to deliver intensive coaching sessions designed to improve and develop every individual’s game.
We provide a range of football education courses. Furthermore, the Academy has facilities for English Language and training courses. The high-quality accommodation available at the Academy features in-suite rooms, study areas, games rooms and an on-site kitchen. The housing is highly supervised and run to a professional football club standard, and all of the highly-trained Staff hold the relevant qualifications and child protection policies.
Away from the football and education courses, the Academy provides a host of other activities for the students, such as seminars, workshops, visits to football games, and guest speakers, including some of the big names in football, evening entertainment, team-building exercises and many other activities that will not only benefit your football development, but make your time here at the academy fun, enjoyable and life-changing.
If you believe you or your son has the ability, talent, and desire to play the game professionally, then join the International Football Academy could prove to be the most important, and the best, decision of his life.
We aim to equip our students for life after the Academy so wherever they go, whether it be life at University or a Football club, they will be able to adapt quickly. Academy staff all have the the same aim, which is to give our students a great experience., whether that be on the football field, in college life or just by becoming a young man enjoying life and making lifelong friends from all around the world.
OUR PARTNERS
