ABOUT CLUB
Mmabatho Football Club (MmabathoFC) is an amateur team affiliated to South African Football Association (SAFA) Promotional League sponsored by SA Breweries known as SAFA Sedibeng SAB League. Mmabatho Football Club was established in 2016 and we are based in the Vaal Triangle (Vanderbijlpark) which is part of Sedibeng Region. Our philosophy is to create a football pathway for talent players between basic education (SASFA) and Tertiary education (USSA).
Mmabatho means “the mother of the nation” and our official Team Colours Are All black with red trimming for home games and All red with black trimming for away games. Our logo is a woman in her traditional outfit (wearing dhoek) which characterizes our values of “Botho-Ubuntu” and clarion recognition towards women’s contribution in our lives. Mmabatho FC does not have a sponsor currently and its supported by the founder’s contribution.
FOOTBALL remains the most popular game in South Africa particularly amongst black people, with a significant number of Indian and white communities. The current situation is that many young aspiring football players who dream of becoming the next PSL superstars, are forced to choose between pursuing a football career or give up on their dream for academical pursuit. The lack of opportunity for young aspiring youth footballers in the tertiary space, gave birth to the idea of Mmabatho Football Club.
The Club was founded in 2014 with a sole mandate of providing these young players with high performance environment within the tertiary education space. The first attempt to get Mmabatho FC into organised football was made in January 2015 whereby the management purchased a SAB league status from Sailer Chabalala F.C. The deal was concluded quickly because the club need a financial rescue if ever the status was going to be saved.
When we took over the management of the status, Sailer Chabalala F.C. was number 16 out 16 team league and the implication was that the club was on its way to been relegated. The management developed a short-term strategy which included investing money to cover operational cost, recruited more players and provided new training facility. The strategy worked wonders as the club managed to win enough games to finish 14th out a 16th team log and survive the relegation.
However, the previous owner renegaded on the deal and because the current management did not change the title deed due to outstanding payment, the owner took the team back and we were left with nothing. The success of 2015 inspired the management to register a team in the SAFA Sedibeng local football league, we need a name and that’s how Mmabatho was formed. This experience inspired the management to develop a long-term participation for Mmabatho FC, based on values of sustainability, winning culture and professionalism.
Mmabatho F.C is an elite post youth football development program targeting basic education football players transitioning into tertiary education. Mmabatho Football club will sign memorandum with the three existing universities (Sedibeng TVET College, North West University and Vaal University of Technology). We will recruit players from these institution on condition that the recruit continues with his studies.
As our program talented players from previous disadvantaged communities and families, we will link our work with NSFAS to take advantage of the free education. Mmabatho Football Club will also develop QMS to recruit office bound staff through advertisement and interviews. This to ensure that as a club we challenge the norms in the industry but also comply with the constitution of the country and empower the marginalized.
