Ntombifuthi Khumalo has spent her working life in the company of young footballers, and when the conversation turns to Youth Month she reaches first for memory and meaning.
“Youth Month is something special for us, especially in South Africa,” she says. “Remember what happened in June 1976.”
For the Bantwana head coach, a Pietermaritzburg native and one of the most decorated youth development coaches in African women’s football, the month is a reminder of what the present generation has inherited. She wants the girls she works with to hold that history close.
“Because were it not for that time, the opportunities they have today to play sport, especially young girls, mean a lot to us and to them.”
Bantwana Head Coach, Ntombifuthi Khumalo
She sees young people not as bystanders to that legacy but as the ones who carry it forward, able to make “a meaningful difference through courage, determination and an active perspective” in their communities and the nation.
Her own route into coaching was drawn by that same conviction. “It’s a passion for development and a commitment to help young girls who have potential and talent,” she says, describing the work that has kept her in the youth game when other doors stood open.
The tournaments, she says, are a privilege rather than a burden. “Coaching them in big tournaments like a World Cup qualifier or COSAFA is a blessing from God, because mine is to see them growing in the game, as a young girl who loves football but does not have much opportunity to see herself in a national team or university setup.”
“It always motivates me when I see them growing and getting opportunity.”
A student of the Maximal Football concept and its focus on developing distinctly African talent, she measures her work by more than results. “Beyond football, I also play an important role in shaping character, teaching values such as discipline, respect, responsibility and teamwork, so that they can become better people and positively contribute to society,” she says.
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That holistic philosophy runs through everything at her programmes. “Developing the player holistically, everything goes hand in hand,” she says. “Along with improving football skills, we focus on life skills, discipline, education, leadership and personal growth.” For Khumalo the two are inseparable, because “when you talk about the best player, it is also about the better human being.”
To the girls whose efforts go unseen, her message is patient and firm:
“You must continue working hard when no one notices your effort. The sacrifice, the commitment and discipline you make in silence will prepare you for the opportunities that come your way. When your moment arrives, you will be ready.”
She has seen that promise come true. In May 2024 she guided the South Africa Under-15 girls to the CAF African Schools Football Championship title in Zanzibar, the country’s maiden title in the competition and the first won by any team from the COSAFA region, beating Morocco on penalties at a packed Amaan Stadium. The win reshaped young lives. “It was something that was big for young girls, and it was a beginning of special things,” Khumalo says. “Many of them are now playing in the Hollywoodbets Super League.”
The value, she says, ran deeper than medals. “After winning the CAF title, they gained more confidence about their game, also as human beings, because that’s another important thing in sport: when you do something good, you also feel good about yourself.”
The harder days have taught her too. A chastening defeat to Nigeria in a previous qualifying campaign became a lesson rather than a wound. “It wasn’t a good result for us, but it helped us a lot,” she says. “Their physical strength, intensity and athleticism were among their greatest strengths. This experience showed us the importance of adapting our style of play and preparing differently depending on the opponent.” She calls it “a learning phase”.
Now Bantwana stand one tie away from the game’s biggest stage, facing Kenya in the final qualification round from 3 to 13 July 2026, with a place at the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, running from 17 October to 7 November, waiting on the other side. Whatever the result, Khumalo is clear about what she wants her players to carry.
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“When they are wearing the national jersey, that’s both an honour and a responsibility,” she says. “Through discipline and commitment, they can create a legacy that will remain forever.”
Her certainty is rooted in her own story. “My background and the challenges that I went through shaped me into the person I am today,” Khumalo says. “Every difficulty I face becomes a lesson, and every step back becomes an opportunity to grow stronger.” Those years, she says, taught her “the value of hard work, resilience and perseverance”.
It is the lesson she leaves for any young girl who fears her chance has passed.
“Never give up, whatever you’re doing.”
“Trust the process and believe in your journey.” There will be setbacks, she allows, but the door is not closed. Stay committed, stay disciplined, and “Be ready when your time arrives”.
Main Photo Caption: Ntombifuthi Khumalo, head coach of Bantwana, the South Africa Under-17 Women’s national football team, is regarded as one of African women’s football’s foremost developers of young girls’ talent. All Photos: Supplied
Photo 2 Caption: A distinguished youth coach from Pietermaritzburg, Khumalo is leading Bantwana’s FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup qualifying push.
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