Founding Members

Ester Mentink
Management Committee - Secretary

This foundation brings together everything I care about: youth empowerment, development, and the incredible ability to uplift and inspire

Management Committee - Secretary

Ester Mentink

My name is Ester Mentink, and I’m proud to be one of the founders of our football foundation. With a deep-rooted passion for empowering vulnerable children, I’ve always believed that every child deserves the opportunity to thrive and reach their full potential—regardless of their circumstances.

I’m an experienced marketing and communications professional, but my heart has always been in community work, helping others thrive. Whether it was creating opportunities for those around me during my life in Tanzania, teaching at a primary school in a township, or supporting a foundation in Cape Town that offers skills development and after-school programs in disadvantaged communities.

Sports has been a lifelong passion of mine. This foundation brings together everything I care about: youth empowerment, community development, and the incredible ability of sport to uplift and inspire.

Riaan Daniels
Management Committee - Chairperson

Through this work, I’m committed to creating lasting impact, nurturing talent and providing meaningful opportunities for the next generation

Management Committee - Chairperson

Riaan Daniels

My name is Riaan Daniels, and I’m passionate about sports development and supporting young sportsmen and women to reach their full potential.

With over 20 years of professional experience in the physiotherapy environment, I bring a strong foundation in athlete care, injury prevention, and physical performance.

In the football space, I serve as a junior coach and club official at a local community club, where I work closely with young players—many from under-resourced backgrounds—helping them grow in skill, confidence, and discipline.

I am also a qualified football referee, which has deepened my understanding of the game and strengthened my commitment to fair play and sportsmanship.

As a dedicated sports administrator, I actively contribute to the planning and organisation of youth programs that promote development through structured sport.

Through this work, I’m committed to creating positive, lasting impact by nurturing talent and providing meaningful opportunities for the next generation.

Joe February
Management Committee - Treasurer

I’m passionate about using sport to empower young people and build stronger communities. I aim to unlock their potential through sport.

Management Committee - Treasurer

Joe February

My name is Joe February, and I’m passionate about using sport as a tool to empower young people and build stronger communities.  Having grown up in an underserved community, I understand firsthand the power of opportunity—and the pivotal role sport can play in opening doors.

With over 30 years of professional experience in business development, human resources, and entrepreneurship, I’ve dedicated my career to creating pathways for growth—both in the workplace and in sport.

Sport has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I competed as an athlete at both junior and senior levels and played football throughout my youth and into the senior divisions. These experiences shaped my deep appreciation for the way sport builds character, discipline, and resilience.

I bring more than three decades of athletics coaching experience and have previously served as a club official in various leadership roles. I also served on the Western Province Athletics Development Committee, where I worked to expand access to athletics across the region. My involvement in football spans over eight years of coaching in under-resourced communities. For the past three years, I’ve been actively coaching junior teams at a local community club that serves many young players from disadvantaged backgrounds. Watching these athletes grow in confidence and ability has been one of the most rewarding parts of my journey.

Through this foundation, I am bringing together my professional expertise, lived experience, and lifelong commitment to sport to help young people overcome barriers, unlock their potential, and build a brighter future—regardless of where they come from.

MISSION AND OBJECTIVES

PREAMBLE

As active coaches and football enthusiasts involved in grassroots football, we’ve seen too many young players sidelined—not for lack of skill or passion, but because they simply cannot afford the costs associated with playing league or formal soccer. Registration fees, transport, gear, and other essentials become barriers that shut out those who need the game the most.

It’s incredibly difficult to watch a child with passion or full of potential walk away from an opportunity simply because of financial constraints. Over the years, we’ve personally funded many players and rallied support from kind-hearted individuals. But these efforts, while heartfelt, can only reach a handful.

OUR INTENT

“Advancing inclusivity and equal opportunity through strategic funding, ensuring that no player is excluded from formal football due to their financial circumstances.”

MISSION STATEMENT

“Empowering enthusiastic and passionate youth from under-resourced communities to thrive in football and life — through donations, sponsorships, grants and strategic partnerships that enable financial support, holistic development, and inclusive access to long-term opportunities in the game.”

MAIN OBJECTIVES

  • Advance inclusivity and equal opportunity, with particular emphasis on youth from disadvantaged backgrounds with limited access to sporting infrastructure and funding.
  • Identify and support young football players from underprivileged communities in South Africa.
  • Provide financial assistance to players for :
    • Registration fees for clubs, leagues, or associations
    • Travel and accommodation for trials, matches, or tournaments
    • Purchase of essential football gear and equipment (e.g., boots, kits, shin pads, balls)
    • Professional coaching and training programmes
    • Nutritional needs on activity days
  • Partner with schools, communities, and sports organisations to build sustainable pathways for youth athletes to progress into local club and professional sport.
  • Promote holistic personal development, including :
    • Access to educational resources and life skills training
    • Mentorship and guidance in areas such as nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being
    • Encouraging discipline, teamwork, and responsibility through structured sports environments
  • Facilitate access and exposure to scouting networks (where possible), development academies, and professional clubs both locally and internationally.