GKEPF JMF U19 Cup 2024
From 14 to 22 December, 40 local youth football and netball teams from Bushbuckridge Municipality came together to compete for the GKEPF JMF U19 Cup at the Thulamahashe New Stadium. This tournament is a partnership between GKEPF and its member reserves, SANParks, and the James Mayinga Foundation, that intends to promote social cohesion through sport, give opportunities to talented players from underprivileged backgrounds, and encourage positive relationships between people and conservation.
The tournament was a huge success. In a first of its kind, it was televised on SuperSport and reached over 1,000,000 viewers worldwide.
One player, Trevor Ndlovu, was scouted at the tournament by professional team Sekhukhune United DDC.
Trevor Ndlovu signs a contract with Sekhukhune’s Technical Director, Macdonald Makhubedu, after being scouted at the U19 Cup.
Additionally, Dimpho Khoza, a young referee who officiated at the U19 Cup from 2022 to 2024, went on to officiate in the DSTv Diski Challenge.
Left: Dimpho Khoza in JMF kit at the U19 Cup. Right: Dimpho in SAFA kit.
Below are some messages JMF received from community members after the event:
"I am actually shocked and surprised that this happened at Thulamahashe, not that I ever doubted you. This is very big and will get better. Hee makwavo I am actually out of words with joy and happiness to realise that if you believe, all things are possible with God. Who would have thought, a live broadcast for the event. You've put together with the team, life and hope to the youngsters of Bushbuckridge as a whole. You've put us on the map makwerhu. Keep it up and well done." — Stan
"This is the most professionally organized tournament that I have ever witnessed in Bushbuckridge. Congratulations goes to James Mayinga foundation and the GKEPF collaboration. There is however plenty of room for improvement. Inkomu" — Coach Dunga
"Your tournament was so huge, I was inspired, really would like our girls to participate one day." — KVF Foundation
Many of the coaches and players expressed how valuable it was to participate in a competition run at a professional standard, with quality officiating, structured fixtures, and national broadcast exposure. For some teams, it was their first time playing in a formal stadium environment—an experience that left a lasting impression on both players and supporters.
The players and crowd celebrate a goal.
The involvement of professional clubs, coaches, and scouts—invited through James Mayinga’s long-standing relationships in the sport—brought an aspirational energy to the event. Young male and female athletes were given a rare opportunity: the chance to be noticed, to imagine a pathway into higher leagues, and to see that their talent could take them further than they previously believed possible. For many in Bushbuckridge, where youth unemployment remains alarmingly high, this kind of hope is not a small thing—it’s transformative.
The winning netball team raise their trophy.
Conservation through sport
As well as giving opportunities to local youths, the U19 Cup aims to use sport as a means to bridge the gap between conservation in the Greater Kruger, and the bordering communities.
In his post for Africa Geographic, Simon Espley wrote, “Making the connection for local people living on the Kruger boundary between our country’s most popular sport and what lives on the other side of the fence is not just clever conservation; it’s essential.“
“What does this sports tournament have to do with wildlife conservation? Everything.”
The success of the 2024 U19 Cup reflects something bigger than a sporting tournament. It represents what becomes possible when conservation organisations and local communities work hand in hand to build trust and create shared value. Football and netball alone may not solve every challenge the region faces, but they open doors: to opportunity, to pride, to a future in which people and wildlife thrive together.
As the tournament continues to grow, so too does its impact. Each match played, each young athlete encouraged, and each relationship strengthened contributes to a healthier, safer, and more connected Greater Kruger region. The hope is simple but powerful—that these fields of play become fields of possibility, where the next generation can dream bigger, stand taller, and see themselves as part of a shared future worth protecting.
