03/10/2026
FROM GOALKEEPER TO COMMUNITY PROTECTOR
He was a goalkeeper. Protecting was his job. For over 15 years, that became protecting vulnerable youth. ABFA vision was to rehabilitate derelict government school sports facilities at no cost to the school and government.
In 2009, African Brothers Football Academy (ABFA) took derelict, crime-attracting tennis courts at Gardens Commercial High School and at zero cost to state turned them into two floodlit, safe 5-a-side fields. The model was to provide 3 x 5vs5 courts and rehabilitate the derelict full size football field. To start the academy, provide the facilities, coaching, equipment, maintenance of facility free of charge to GCHS.
ABFA gave homeless football enthusiasts opportunity to become involved in the coaching and maintenance of the academy. Sustainability was achieved by renting the courts and facility to the community, which financed the upkeep and academy to provide youth opportunity to play league football.
It was a safe space that worked:
Evening community bookings, corporate 5-a-side leagues and weekend social leagues funded free coaching for 150-200 vulnerable youth yearly. No government funding. Self-sustaining. Kids who had nowhere after school had structure, coaching, belonging away from drugs and gangs. Parents and Community Policing Forum supported it. The academy was used to prepare the 2005 Homeless World Cup team to play in Italy.
Then government took down that safe space. City of Cape Town issued zoning complaints, calling the safe space "commercial". Hours cut 60%, killing income that funded free coaching. IOL 3 Sept 2014: "Soccer academy cries foul." Council approved community rezoning 17 April 2014, but damage done. DA sponsored project Grass Boots FC denied ABFA the opportunity to join the league after commuting in writing by Stuart Diamond that he would sanction ABFA joining the league. Then reneged on the agreement.
Plan was to scale model through African Brothers Foundation to rebuild other derelict school fields. A house next to academy was secured as HQ for international coaches and social workers for Coach the Coach programs and at-risk youth, and offices for LOLO Foundation, in honour of Mihlali LOLO Morris, renowned at Academy for resilience despite failed kidney transplants, to care for terminally ill children and families.
Instead the Housing Scheme Working Committee (HSWC) - Human Settlements Western Cape - and the DA Human Settlements intervened. Per founder, HSWC went back on agreements, changed zoning by-laws with no due process, presented incorrect entities and hearsay in High Court, committing perjury with impunity.
Judgement used wrong name, blocking him from operating any business/foundation or receiving funding. Illegally evicted to streets after spending all capital on legal fees, forced to self-represent. Academy taken over. Foundations forced to close. Vulnerable youth lost opportunity. Safe space gone.
"HSWC and DA destroyed 34 years work and left me homeless. All I request is fair tribunal to resolve amicably and allow me to contribute again.
"From protecting a net to protecting children, government took down a safe space that gave vulnerable youth opportunity.
ABFA aim was to implement the Vision and model to as many schools as possible. Unfortunately, bureaucratic red tape, reverse racism, and a lack of commitment providing youth with the opportunity to dream!
A CALL TO ACTION - CCHR AFRICA
Demands Fair Tribunal
Restore Safe Spaces
Protect our Youth
Show your support for Craig's good work by sharing this post and let him know you stand with him and what he is trying to achieve.
