Tshabalala lauds CAF African Schools Football Championship in developing Africa’s next generation of talent and leaders
South African football legend, Siphiwe Tshabalala has heaped praise on CAF’s innovative approach to grassroots football development through the CAF African Schools Football Championship, describing the initiative as a vital foundation for the future of African football.
The former Bafana Bafana star was among the ten CAF Legends at the recent Continental Finals in Zimbabwe, where he shared insights with participants in the CAF Young Reporters Programme - one of the competition’s key capacity-building initiatives.
Reflecting on the tournament’s fourth edition, Tshabalala emphasized the importance of sustained investment in grassroots football across the continent.
“This phase is the most critical. All professional players started here. It’s important to nurture young talent properly, provide resources, and create opportunities so that we can instil love for the game, passion, and a winning mentality.”
The iconic midfielder, who rose from humble beginnings to global recognition, also shared his own journey from grassroots football to the professional stage - highlighting the challenges faced by his generation.
“Back then, it was difficult. We didn’t even have decent fields - grass was a luxury. We played on gravel and dusty pitches,” he recalled. “But it was all driven by love, passion, dedication, and discipline.”
Tshabalala believes today’s structures, such as the CAF African Schools Football Championship, can help shorten the path to success for aspiring players, while also coupling it with education as seen through the capacity building programmes of the competition.
“Our responsibility now is to ensure that the next generation takes a shorter route — but the right one”
Beyond football, Tshabalala also highlighted the importance of education, urging young players to balance both aspects of their development.
“Education is very important. Football must go hand in hand with education. That way, we can produce a generation of players who are well-rounded, able to make good decisions about their lives and careers.”
When asked about the most important lesson he would pass on to young footballers, Tshabalala stressed the value of passion and enjoyment of the game above all else.
“They must love what they do. When they are on the field, they should feel happy and safe — and simply enjoy themselves,” he said. “At this level, winning is not the most important thing. This is where passion is built, where you learn to be a good teammate and develop life skills like selflessness.”
He concluded by wishing the continent’s future stars success, expressing confidence that initiatives like the CAF African Schools Football Championship will continue to shape a bright future for African football.