#Ubuntu10Year: 2019
2019 was a year of “new” for Ubuntu Football Academy. We began the year with a new initiative at the Ubuntu School: a high school led by Sarah Prince! For the first time, we welcomed our players in Grades 10, 11, and 12 to join their younger brothers at the school. Needless to say, there were many ups and downs. The chance to spend more time investing in our older boys through their education and the ability to fit their training schedule in and around school hours was very valuable. Additionally, the boys’ brotherhood could only increase due to their extended time spent together. While these things were incredibly important, the high schoolers were faced with challenges in adjusting to this new school system, most prominently that their instruction was carried out online. Going from a traditional school environment where you interact face to face with teachers daily and have the opportunity to ask questions is very different from managing your own instruction and spending most of your day with headphones in. However, the boys admirably took on the challenge and we proudly ended the year with the first class of matriculants from the Ubuntu School.
Photos above in order: The High School room with boys Gr 10-12, then the 2019 matriculants (Keenan, Pitso, Tevin, Duwayne, Ashley).
The Zimmermann family in 2019: Tertius and Marni with children Sino, Kara, and Karmi
Changes were happening around the Ubuntu House as well. We welcomed the Zimmermanns to Ubuntu and they embraced their role as the new House family. 5 boys remained living with the Scheepers, who had previously lived in the House, but with 26 left, the Zimmermanns still had plenty of new children to take care of on top of their own 3! Their desire for the House was that it would be not just a residence or dormitory where the boys had to stay, but that it would truly feel like another home to those who lived there. We were blessed to have the Zimmermanns join us in our mission to mentor the future leaders of South Africa with their hearts for building relationships!
In 2019 we exploded onto the football scene in a way we never had before. After a great 8 year partnership with Fish Hoek, we shed their name and proudly registered for all of our leagues and tournaments under our own name. All of our age groups went on to win their leagues! In addition, each team also won at least one tournament they took part in: the U12s at Rygersdal and Salt River, the U14s at Junction Rovers, the U16s at Bayview, Rockafellas and the Supercup, and the U18s at the Western Cape ENGEN Knockout Challenge and the National ENGEN KOC in Johannesburg. Other than the joy and excitement of doing so well on the field, 2019 was the last year that fans were able to cheer from the sidelines before the unfortunate arrival of Covid-19. We’re so glad that we were able to share our successes on the field with a whole host of supporters and finish out the year strongly in all areas.
