Royal Bafokeng Sports and La Liga team up to build future football stars
Royal Bafokeng Sports (RBS), representing the Royal Bafokeng Nation, has formed an exciting partnership with LaLiga to establish the Royal Bafokeng Sports LaLiga Academy. Its goal is to provide world-class football development in South Africa.
RBS has built a strong reputation in sports development in the North West in athletics, netball, football and basketball, especially.
It hosts the exciting annual RBS Junior NBA/WNBA Finals in Rustenburg, which, in 2024, was attended by five-time NBA champion Ron Harper.
One of the products of those events is Reatlegile Taukobong, who now plays for the Soweto Basketball Academy and signed with Western Texas College earlier this year.
Hailing from Rustenburg, she played for Kitsong School, which excelled in the Royal Bafokeng Jr. NBA/WNBA League. She has also captained South Africa’s junior national basketball team, and will jet off to the USA in autumn 2026.
The football partnership between RBS and La Liga reflects the commitment of RBS to developing youth football, both nationally and across the continent. It also merges LaLiga’s internationally acclaimed training methodology with RBS’s enduring dedication to utilising sport as a catalyst for community development.
In a joint press statement, RBS and LaLiga said: “The initiative supports the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s Vision 2035 (Plan 35), which prioritises investment in sports programmes and resources to empower local communities.”
In early 2025, RBS, in collaboration with LaLiga, selected eight young South African footballers, four boys and four girls, to travel to Madrid for a training camp as part of the Next Gen Draft Project. The initiative is a global talent development programme launched by LaLiga and EA Sports FC, which is aimed at discovering and nurturing young players from around the world.
The players selected from South Africa included Masilo Goitseone, Malatso Orateng, Tebogo Montshing, Olerato Ramafi, Boitshepo Mfaladi, Kgatsliso Raseloma, Mamonyana Mpondo, and Dineo Potso.
Trésor Penku, the Managing Director of LaLiga Africa, said: “This launch reflects a shared commitment between LaLiga and the Royal Bafokeng Nation to the responsible and sustainable development of youth football in Africa.
“By combining our methodology with RBS’s infrastructure and long-term vision, we are creating a high-performance environment that will nurture talent and contribute meaningfully to the South African football ecosystem.”
The RBS and LaLiga Academy will be located at The Sports Campus Marang – a facility providing a cutting-edge environment that adheres to elite international standards – within the Royal Marang Hotel, in Phokeng.
The complex features six natural grass pitches, two artificial turf pitches, a 7v7 pitch, and a High Performance Centre, creating an ideal environment for both training and competitive events.
Initially, the academy will host around 100 players distributed across five divisions – u14, u15, u17, u19, and a senior team. That structure will provide a well-defined pathway that integrates high-performance training, competitive engagement, and academic support.
Players will participate in community, regional, and elite competitions. They will be supported by sophisticated performance analysis technology, which is aimed at fostering individual growth.
Emile Smith, the Acting Managing Director of Royal Bafokeng Sports, highlighted the strategic importance of the collaboration: “This partnership with LaLiga represents a major milestone in the Royal Bafokeng Nation’s journey to develop young football talent.
“Together, we are creating opportunities for aspiring athletes through world-class coaching, mentorship, and access to exceptional facilities. This academy will not only elevate player development but also inspire a deeper passion for football within our communities.”
The collaboration leverages La Liga’s vast global presence. In the past 10 years, it has executed over 900 international sports initiatives in more than 60 nations.
Several La Liga clubs have academies, elite development programmes, and foundations in South Africa. Espanyol created the first official La Liga club academy in Johannesburg in 2022, with Michael Bender serving as its CEO. The Real Madrid Foundation has, meanwhile, initiated an academy in collaboration with Generation Schools in Cape Town and Johannesburg.
Juan Florit, Head of Football Projects at LaLiga, commented: “Through collaborations such as this, we are able to share the knowledge and expertise of Spanish football while adapting it to local contexts.
“Together with the Royal Bafokeng Nation, we aim to identify and develop regional talent and create long-term value for the game,” he concluded.
