#Ubuntu10Year: 2011
In 2011, soon after the official founding of Ubuntu Football Academy, Casey Prince and Michael Jenkins were busy training and getting to know their first group of boys and exploring what Ubuntu was going to look like. After only six weeks of training and with several friendly matches under their belts, the founders heard about an annual high-profile tournament in Strandfontein for U13 age groups. According to Casey, all the best teams played in “The Tournament by the Sea” so naturally Ubuntu–registered under Fish Hoek AFC’s name–decided to enter.
The first match for the boys in The Tournament by the Sea was against Ajax Cape Town, which back in 2011 was maybe even more of a big deal than it is now. Ajax, sponsored by their sister club in the Netherlands, had all sorts of matching kits, tracksuits, tennis shoes, and even a van with their name printed on it. “Our kids were completely scared out of their minds,” Casey laughs. At halftime Ubuntu was down 3-0 to Ajax but won the second half 2-1, making the final score 4-2 Ajax. The match was the first one with a meaningful result for the boys, not to mention that it was their first-ever tournament. The team went on to win the “Plate” section or middle bracket of the tournament. Casey asserts, “it was a big deal to win something, to do well, to give them some belief that this could be something special. It was also somewhat of an introduction to the public scene, and we even won the sportsmanship award.”
Even though they were registered under Fish Hoek’s name, The Tournament by the Sea was the first high-profile event that Ubuntu took part in. This milestone coupled with the team’s unique make-up–bringing together black, white, and coloured boys who don’t normally interact–made the experience even more impactful. Casey and Mike, therefore, decided to add another layer of significance by renting a campground in Glencairn for the duration of the tournament. Casey reflects, “taking them away was even another level. Them staying away with each other was really cool.” Not only were the boys playing in a big tournament, but they were spending time having fun together and building foundational relationships in an intentional way outside of football.
Reflecting on this experience and looking forward, this first tournament led to Casey and Mike asking themselves what could be achieved in the future. Winning a bracket of The Tournament by the Sea after such a short period of time spent developing their first team sparked much hope and excitement from the football side of things but also on the relational side. Taking into account Ubuntu’s recent foundation, Casey and Mike were searching for meaningful ways to connect with the boys. Casey relates, “that’s why being away was so special because it wasn’t just driving them to training or being at training, it was a different environment where we were having fun, sharing meals, and that kind of stuff.” This first trip even sparked a tradition for the subsequent five years where teams would go away together during the preseason to connect and enjoy one another. Overall, the experience at The Tournament by the Sea pointed towards many things that still characterize Ubuntu and make it special today: the unique way that coaches seek to know and build relationships with their players, the culturally diverse nature of the teams, and the bonds created between communities that typically remain separate.
