Stuart is the Founding member of the Academy and occupies the position of chairman of the management committee. Stuart’s primary objective is to establish a strong institution that is able to deliver on its objectives and cement firm collaborations within the South African Football Association (SAFA) and other local and regional bodies. It is important to develop a clear understanding of what is required to best assist the development of soccer within poorly resourced areas from a cultural and social perspective, with both a South African and global perspective.
Fatima Jadean - Youth Development and Marketing
Fatima joined the AFA in May of 2008 seeking to invest further in her interest in youth development. She is actively involved in women's football in Lenasia and her interest lies in women's and youth development. Fatima heads up our youth development programme and has taken on the task of fundraising and sponsorship. We are fortunate to have someone with Fatima's dedication on board and look forward to expanding our areas of operation and influence further.
Brian 'Zero' Maduna - Senior Technical Coach
Brian is dedicated to the upliftment of local soccer as well as the broader community of Soweto. In his role as Senior Technical Coach, Brian will establish a well-grounded and technically advanced training program, which will operate at the Academy's facilities. Development of coaches and referee's will be co-ordinated in collaboration with SAFA-Soweto in conjunction with an administration and management workshop program.
Dr. Jason Suter - Medical Director
Jason has been involved with the South African Rugby u21 squad for a number of years as well as being active within other sporting disciplines. He has served as team doctor to Helenic and Ajax FC, and UCT Rugby in the Western Cape. He joins us as medical officer and advisor and general fundraiser, based in Cape Town. Jason will oversee all medical biographics and procedures as well as Biometric testing. We would like to welcome him to the team and thank him for the time and energy he has put in so far.
Dr. Lervasen Pillay - Medical Officer
Lervasen is currently completing his masters in Sports Medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand under Dr Dimitri Constantinou of the Centre for Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. After discussions with Lervason, we are in the process of mapping out a research and rehabilitation centre for Sports Medicine under the Directorship of Dr. Jason Suter. This will facilitate further socio-economic and environmental research around our area of operation and within the greater Soweto municipality.
Thabo Putu - Education Officer (Wits University)
Thabo is from the Wits Volunteer Programme (WVP) - Community University Partnerships (CUPS). He is familiar with the area and welcomes the opportunity to stand in as an interim advisor for the Academy's education programme.
The following members are currently being utilised on a volunteer basis until such time as funding can be found for a more permanent post:
Ricardo Trabulo - Fitness Trainer
Ricardo has joined Amathole as Brians assistant coach. He is qualified in sports management and education with a particular focus on fitness development and goal-keeper training. Ricardo will be developing development programmes in conjunction with various partners and will conduct in-training exercises and medical testing activities.
'China' and Peter Aaron
'China' and Peter are dedicated ex-players whose passion for the development of football in Lenasia brought them to Amathole in 2008. They are dedicated to the upliftment of youth football and have committed themselves to acting as both scouts and future coaches of the Amathole, Lenasia branch, football development programme.
Gugu Moyo - Senior Administrator
Gugu joins Amathole as a senior administrator and is passionate about sports. Jjoining the AFA is "...one of the greatest things I have ever done as it shares my passion of developing sport for young people". Gugu is also committed to assisting and achieving goals in a team environment and notes that the challenges that lie ahead are one of the things that excite her most.
Phindile Bekwa - Resource Manager
Phindile approached the AFA with a desire to contribute meaningfully, in her capacity as a senior librarian, to the development of youth through sports and education. She has taken up the challenge of co-coordinating the research and resource database in conjunction with assembling resource materials for grade 12 learners and players wanting to pursue Tertiary academic opportunities. Another of Phindile's roles in the AFA structures, an area in which she is passionate, is to foster relations and promote the role of women as providers and recipients of development initiatives.
Linda Skosana - Sports Administrator
Linda recently joined the Academy as a currently registered undergraduate student at the University of Johannesburg's department of Sport Administration. Linda has shown a willingness to engage completely in the day-to-day running of all aspects of the Academy and its functions. With this enthusiasm and vibrant personality, we expect Linda to make a dynamic contribution to the AFA as it progresses towards cementing future sponsorship opportunities.
The position of Senior Researcher and Museum Curator is in the process of being approved and finalised, details of this appointment will follow shortly.
The position of AFA Cooking Staff is currently being developed with local skills projects and will ensure the players are nutritionally catered for in the near future (2007 season). This partnership will form the second job creation and small business development project that the AFA have undertaken.