How community sports can rebuild South Africa’s economy and future

IN A NATION where more than 60% of the unemployed are under the age of 35, South Africa stands at a defining crossroads. Yet hidden beneath the grim statistics lies a playbook for hope - one that doesn't begin in boardrooms or policy briefs but on the dusty fields, township courts, and school playgrounds where dreams are born daily.

- DR NIK EBERL

South Africa’s global sporting triumphs - our back-to-back Rugby World Cup wins, world-beating track stars like Wayde van Niekerk, and champions like Dricus du Plessis - are not isolated miracles.

They are symbols of a deeper truth: we are a nation brimming with raw, untapped talent. But talent alone is not enough. What South Africa needs now is a bold, coordinated national effort to invest in community sports as a driver of youth engagement, job creation, and economic growth. Just as the sports academies of New Zealand, Brazil, and Kenya have created pipelines of global excellence and industry ecosystems, so too can South Africa turn its sporting passion into prosperity.

Sport Is Not Just a Game - It's an Industry

The global sports economy is worth over $600 billion. From training academies and nutrition specialists to media rights, data analytics, merchandise, and tourism, sport is a full value chain.

Yet community sports - particularly in under-resourced areas — remain informal and fragmented in South Africa. By formalising and funding grassroots sport, we can unlock a new generation of jobs: coaches, referees, sport psychologists, event planners, physiotherapists, equipment suppliers, content creators, and youth development officers. The township netball coach becomes a mentor and entrepreneur. The football tournament organiser becomes an SMME owner. Multiply that by 100 communities, and you ignite an entire ecosystem.

Youth Belief is Built Through Play

We don't just have an unemployment crisis - we have a belief crisis. Many young South Africans no longer believe they have a future. But sport restores that belief.

Community sports teach discipline, teamwork, goal setting, and resilience. Studies show that youth who participate in sport are 40% more likely to finish school, and significantly less likely to engage in crime or substance abuse.