With youth unemployment climbing to 62.4% in early 2025, young South Africans are searching for more than just job opportunities — they’re seeking purpose, passion, and pathways to a better future. Last month, the national U20 football team sparked national pride by winning the TotalEnergies CAF U-20 Africa Cup of Nations and securing a place at the FIFA U-20 World Cup. This triumph isn’t just the result of training and talent; it also reflects the growing role of digital access and internet connectivity in youth development and skills development.
Football today is increasingly digital, relying heavily on online coaching tools, match footage analysis, and virtual scouting. Reliable internet service has become a key enabler for youth players, especially in under-resourced areas. Initiatives like the IberCup International Youth Tournament, supported by VUMA, are harnessing this reality to transform lives by connecting talented players to opportunity, fostering digital literacy, and contributing to sustainable development.
Digital infrastructure builds international bridges
South Africa’s only official LaLiga-affiliated academy, RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, has been at the forefront of this digital transformation. Dylan McKnight, the academy’s manager, explains that fibre access plays a critical role in building global partnerships: “Having a strong digital infrastructure allows us to maintain and strengthen partnerships with European clubs. This creates a talent pipeline between South Africa and the biggest football leagues in the world and raises the standards in the country through knowledge sharing.”
This digital bridge also supports international scouting, which increasingly relies on real-time sharing of video footage and performance data. With fibre in place, South African clubs and academies can transmit scouting information instantly to clubs abroad, helping players gain visibility far beyond their home grounds and potentially access new job markets.
VUMA fibre levels the playing field
To help bring these opportunities to more communities and expand the VUMA reach, VUMA has connected over 930 schools to free 1Gbps fibre lines, a move that underpins the IberCup’s goals and promotes inclusive growth. According to Taylor Kwong, Head of Marketing at VUMA, this infrastructure is about more than internet connection; it’s about future-building: “Our hope is that by making it possible for more youth football programmes to go digital, we can give young players a chance to be seen. The more of them that get seen, the more likely we are to get another Benni McCarthy lifting the Champions League.”
By supporting the digitisation of youth programmes, VUMA is enabling young players to be discovered and supported, regardless of where they live, while also contributing to community upliftment and the broader telecommunications sector.
Reaching the overlooked, virtually
Football infrastructure in township and rural areas remains limited, and the cost of equipment, travel, and academy fees continues to exclude many aspiring players. Despite these barriers, digital connectivity offers a way forward. Michael Bender, CEO of RCD Espanyol de Barcelona Academy SA and organiser of the IberCup, points out that fibre is helping bridge these gaps: “Development is patchy. Rural areas are still left behind, and the scouting networks aren’t reaching far enough. But with rural connectivity through fibre, we’re increasingly able to reach those areas, if not in person, then virtually. Technology has allowed us to expand our reach significantly.”
Even where physical infrastructure is lacking, virtual scouting and coaching are beginning to fill the void. Through digital submissions, talented players are being evaluated by professional clubs without having to leave their communities, opening up new digital opportunities and pathways for career development.
Local tournaments, global impact
The IberCup is giving youth teams a stage to shine and an audience of international scouts. Major clubs such as Mamelodi Sundowns, Kaizer Chiefs, Paris Saint-Germain, Benfica and PSV Eindhoven often attend, and several standout players have progressed to local PSL teams and overseas academies.
The tournament doesn’t just offer competition; it offers visibility and validation. Players who may never have had the resources to attend elite academies are now being discovered through a smartphone camera and a fibre connection, showcasing how technology skills can open doors in the digital economy.
The next goal: national digital talent search
Building on this momentum, the IberCup and RCD Espanyol Academy are preparing to launch South Africa’s largest digital talent search, powered by VUMA. The initiative will allow players across the country to submit footage for scouting consideration, ensuring that every young footballer — regardless of location — has a shot at being discovered and developing their entrepreneurship skills.
Bender says the mission goes beyond talent scouting: “We’re not just building footballers. We’re building belief, opportunity, and the infrastructure to support long-term dreams and improve employment prospects.”
Fibre, football and the future
Youth Month served as a reminder of the importance of investing in young people. Through VUMA’s fibre connectivity and initiatives like the IberCup, South Africa is beginning to see how technology can empower talent, expand access, and change futures.
As more young players gain the digital tools to showcase their skills, the dream of turning local potential into global achievement is no longer just a fantasy — it’s becoming a reality. This convergence of sports and technology is not only enhancing workforce development but also contributing to job creation.
The impact of these initiatives extends beyond the football pitch, fostering digital literacy, providing vocational training, and equipping youth with the technology skills needed to thrive in the digital economy. By bridging the digital divide and providing internet service to underserved communities, VUMA and its partners are playing a crucial role in sustainable development and creating a more inclusive future for South Africa’s youth.
For more information on IberCup or RCD Espanyol de Barcelona, visit: https://ibercup.co.za/ or https://espanyolacademy.co.za
