A coaching team from Bundesliga club 1.FSV Mainz 05 has visited the Totalsport Safe-Hub in Johannesburg’s Alexandra for a special training day, organised through a partnership with Bundesliga collaborator AMANDLA Safe-Hub.
Mainz 05 player and academy coach Joerg Conrad, along with his team, engaged and inspired over 80 young players. Boys and girls aged 8 to 16 from ANFLA enjoyed a variety of competitive games and developed technical skills in a dynamic, play-based environment.
This visit marked Mainz 05’s second trip to Safe-Hub Alexandra this year, following former Mali national player Bakary Diakité’s appearance in May. Adding to the unique experience, participants joined an interactive digital session with Nico Sahm, Head of Scouting for Mainz’s successful youth department. Sahm captivated the audience with insights into the scouting and evaluation process at Mainz 05, making the session both engaging and educational.
“It was a fantastic experience and truly enjoyable to train with so many children. Their joy always impresses us and motivates us to continue these activities,” said Jörg Conrad, coach of the Mainz 05 football school.
“It’s inspiring to see so much interest in our digital presentation on scouting. Mainz 05 is well-regarded for its player development, having fostered renowned coaches like Jürgen Klopp and Thomas Tuchel, and players such as World Cup winner André Schürrle and current captain Jonathan Burkhardt. Sharing this knowledge is central to our philosophy, and we are proud to support initiatives like AMANDLA Safe-Hub,” added Nico Sahm, Head of Scouting at Mainz 05 Academy.
Safe-Hub representatives said the event went beyond football, building skills, confidence, and a sense of belonging in the community. The organisation said they were hoping to empower youth in the township to see new possibilities in themselves and their future, adding the organisation was grateful for Mainz 05’s commitment to this shared vision.
The day closed with young players receiving posters from the Mainz 05 professional team to commemorate the experience. Both Mainz 05 and AMANDLA Safe-Hub said they were looking forward to building on this partnership with further initiatives that continue to empower and inspire the youth.
