The passion for football runs deep in South Africa, and as you would expect, several soccer academies and schools in the country help nurture young talent.
Some of these institutes offer boarding facilities, where young players can focus primarily on developing their soccer skills.
These soccer boarding schools offer fully-fledged academic programs aimed at producing all-rounded soccer stars.
Here is a list of the best soccer boarding schools in South Africa.
1. Louis Botha Technical High School – Bloemfontein, Free State
Louis Botha Technical High School is an institution that is located in Bloemfontein, Free State, South Africa. It is considered one of the oldest schools in South Africa, having existed for over 100 years.
Despite being an academic institution, Louis Botha has a thriving sports program.
It has invested a lot in soccer, with the school having several teams for under 14, under 15, under 16, under 17, under 18, and 19 age categories.
These teams often compete in several provincial and national competitions.
The school has also produced several pro footballers, such as Tebogo Qinisile, who currently plays for Upington City FC, and Teboho Khasipe, who previously represented Bloemfontein Celtic.
2. Soweto United Stars Soccer Academy – Soweto, Gauteng Province
Soweto United Stars Soccer Academy is one of the top soccer boarding schools in Gauteng province.
It is located in the Pimville neighbourhood of Soweto, where it offers soccer training alongside a full-fledged academic program.
The academy is an excellent soccer school for young individuals looking to make a career out of the sport. It offers several soccer programs, from under 13 to under 20. On top of that, it has a senior and reserve team.
The academy’s teams regularly participate in national and international competitions, which offers its players a lot of exposure.
For example, in 2018, the under-13, 15, and 17 teams were invited to play in the Norway Cup, an international competition that attracts teams from all over the world.
3. Diambars Football Academy – Boksburg, Gauteng Province
Diambars Football Academy is another South African soccer boarding school in Gauteng Province.
It is located in Boksburg City and is part of the Diambars Football Academy in Senegal, started by former pro footballers Jimmy Adjovi-Boko and Bernard Lama.
The school is one of the most prestigious soccer schools in South Africa. It is famous for dominating several national tournaments in which it regularly participates.
It has also produced several stars, for example, Lebogang Mothiba (who plays for French club RC Strasbourg Alsace), Keanu Gregory Cupido (Cape Town City FC), and Tholang Masegela (former Magesi FC player).
4. Total Football Academy – Johannesburg, Gauteng Province
Total Football Academy is a football school based in Johannesburg. It offers a soccer program for boys between 9 and 20 and a mainstream academic program stretching from grade 1 to grade 12.
The academy also offers boarding facilities for both soccer and non-soccer students.
Total Football Academy is one of the top soccer schools in South Africa. Its teams are regular participants of the prestigious SAFA league.
It also provides exposure to its players through regular national and international tournaments.
5. TuksSport High School – Pretoria, Gauteng Province
TuksSport High School is another one of the top soccer boarding schools in South Africa. It is located in Pretoria, Gauteng Province. The high school has a soccer program for both young boys and girls.
Besides soccer, the institution offers several other sports programs (athletics, golf, tennis, triathlon, gymnastics, cricket, judo, swimming, etc.). It also has a full-fledged academic program.
TuksSport High School is a great school for young students interested in soccer. It has excellent training facilities and knowledgeable staff and coaches.
It also offers an innovative learning environment with a broad and balanced academic curriculum.
The school’s alumni include Thembi Kgatlana, Linda Motlhalo, and Amogelang Motau, South African Women’s National Soccer team players who represented the country in the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
6. Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools – Johannesburg
Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools are a group of South African Soccer academies located in Boksburg, North Riding, and Midrand.
They offer a soccer program (with boarding facilities) to boys and girls between the ages of 6 and 13.
Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools are new to the South African soccer academy scene, having been launched in 2023.
However, they are already making waves as they were started by Pitso Mosimane, a professional footballer and renowned coach who has produced several international stars.
7. Super Sports United Soccer Schools – Pretoria, Gauteng Province
If you want to play football while in school, Super Sports United Soccer Schools is the place to be.
It is a group of schools with several soccer academies around South Africa, including Pretoria, Cape Town, Ruimsig, Sandton, Durban, and more. Many of these schools offer boarding facilities for their young footballers.
Super Sports United Schools are a great place for young players to hone their skills. The schools offer free formal education, world-class soccer training facilities, and life-skills coaching.
It has also produced notable stars like Ronwen Hayden (South Africa men’s national soccer team), Cebo Meyiwa (Mpumalanga Black Aces), and Dumsani Msibi (South Africa Under 20).
8. Hilton College – Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal
Hilton College is one of the top South African boarding schools that are good in soccer. It is located in Hilton, KwaZulu-Natal province.
It is a private boarding school for boys that offers a comprehensive sports program that includes soccer, athletics, basketball, canoeing, cricket, golf, swimming, tennis, water polo, and more.
Hilton College is one of the most prestigious sports schools in South Africa.
It offers a world-class private school education. It also has top-of-the-line training facilities, which provide the perfect environment for young people to develop excellent soccer skills.
9. Siyadlala Football Academy – Hazyview, Mpumalanga
Siyadlala Football Academy is a soccer boarding school located at Hazyview in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The academy offers a soccer training program for boys aged 10 to 15.
Siyadlala Football Academy is not an academic institution, but it partners with other schools in the area to ensure its youngsters get the education they need.
The academy also has an impressive soccer program and often participates in international tournaments with other European teams and academies, giving its young talent much-needed exposure.
10. BSI Football Academy – Johannesburg, Gauteng Province
BSI (Balderstone Sports Institute) is an elite sports performance academy in Johannesburg, South Africa.
It offers a sports coaching program for soccer, golf, tennis, and athletics and a broad academic program.
BSI Football Academy is one of the top soccer boarding schools in South Africa, with the football program catering to boys and girls from as young as eight to 19 years old.
On top of that, the academy has an elite development program for young players out of high school who are looking to turn pro.
BSI’s facilities are also world-class, and the school regularly arranges international soccer camps to provide more exposure to its players.
In addition, the academy has produced several notable stars like Tatiana Correia, who was recently called up for national duty with the South African Women’s Under 17 national team.
