Urban Academy Private School, in the Eastern Cape, is making significant strides in South Africa’s football landscape.
This year, they have secured multiple titles, winning the Victoria Park Soccer Tournament, the provincial Super Soccer Schools Tournament, which they host, the Wynberg Freedom Cup, and the Kearsney Soccer Tournament during the mid-year break.
Still, they strive to push forward. On Tuesday, Urban Academy launched the Urban Football Academy in Despatch. It offers a new dual pathway for football development and education.
In September 2025, Urban Academy established a club, Urban Academy Football Club (UAFC), which will now be integrated into the academy.
Through its dedication to youth football in the newly inaugurated Urban Football Academy, Urban Academy has recruited the highly experienced Ernest Middendorp as the Academy Director, with Douleen Whitebooi assuming the role of Technical Manager.
Middendorp, who has extensive experience as a Premier Soccer League (PSL) coach, will oversee the Academy’s football philosophy, high-performance methodology, technical direction, and development standards. A UEFA Pro License holder with decades of coaching experience in Africa, Asia, and Europe, he will guide coaching standards, methodologies, player progression, and preparation for higher levels of football.
Whitebooi offers specialised expertise in technical development, coach education, curriculum implementation, and long-term player development.
As a Confederation of African Football (CAF) Elite Instructor and holder of a CAF A License, her responsibilities include supporting the academy’s coaching methodology, ensuring development is age-appropriate and player-centered, enhancing coaching capacity, and maintaining technical consistency across the Foundation, Development, and Elite High Performance phases.
The Urban Football Academy will function as a Non-Profit Organisation (NPO) and is currently in the process of obtaining formal Non-Profit Organisation status.
Additionally, it has submitted an application for SAFA Academy accreditation, which is presently under review, Kaggan Assam, the Headmaster of Urban Academy Private School, and a Board Member and Director of Football Operations of Urban Football Academy, told SuperSport Schools News.
The Academy welcomes its first full intake in January 2027, offering structured development opportunities for both male and female players across its U9, U11, U13, and U17 pathways.
At the helm of the Executive and Technical Leadership is Dr. Estienne Cronjé, who serves as the Founder, Board Member, and Executive Director of the Urban Football Academy.
In his capacity as Executive Director, Cronjé holds overall executive responsibility for the strategic direction and development of the organisation, encompassing governance, institutional growth, financial sustainability, funding strategy, educational integration, partnerships, organisational development, and the execution of the Academy’s broader vision.
In a recent press statement, he emphasised that education must remain at the core of any serious high-performance pathway.
“An educated athlete has a greater chance of navigating the modern sporting world successfully, whether that journey ultimately leads to professional football, university, business, or another career altogether,” he said.
The Urban Academy Private School is the official educational partner of the Urban Football Academy, facilitating an academic environment that bolsters the Academy’s dual pathway of football and education.
