About 85 youth footballers and coaches from across Cape Town took part in a two-day training clinic organised by Bundesliga club Mainz 05 in partnership with the local Nexgen Football School. The sessions aimed to introduce European academy coaching methods to players aged under-10 to under-18 and to upskill local coaches.
The clinic was led by Simon Hasler, a Mainz 05 representative, working closely with the Nexgen coaching team. According to Justin Tantaal, project facilitator and founder of Nexgen Football School, the biggest success was exposing young players to a new level and style of coaching that broadens their horizons for what is required to progress.
“The biggest success was seeing these young players being exposed to a different level and style of coaching,” said Tantaal. “This helps open their eyes to what is possible and what is required to reach that next level.”
Mainz 05 has a history of engagement in South Africa, strengthening its grassroots ties through earlier visits to Durbanville FC, Sunningdale FC, and sessions at Vygiesskraal Stadium engaging clubs like Golden United FC, Valencia FC, East End Ladies, Heideveld, and Rygate LAD.
Thomas Henkel of Mainz 05 highlighted the value of these initiatives: “These visits are an important part of our international approach. We exchange ideas, learn from local environments, and build relationships.” This underlines Mainz 05’s commitment to long-term football development partnerships in South Africa.
The October 2026 Cape Town clinic fits into Mainz 05’s broader strategy of combining grassroots coaching, coach education, and relationship building across the region. While exact venue details in Cape Town and confirmation of the clinic’s dates have not been independently verified, the event marks continued progress in exposing local talent to international coaching standards.
Mainz 05’s approach in the Western Cape reflects an increasing trend among European clubs to foster youth development abroad, aiming to leave a lasting legacy beyond occasional visits. For Cape Town’s football community, this offers opportunities for players and coaches to gain insight into high-performance training environments that could boost their competitive edge locally and nationally.
CapeFlats.co.za will continue to follow Mainz 05’s activities in the Cape Town area and report on further developments as more confirmed information becomes available.