FSV Mainz 05 partners with Bundesliga to develop football in South Africa

Mainz 05, in partnership with Bundesliga, on Friday hosted coaching clinics for their South African academy partner Prestige Football Development Academy, which included theory as well as practical training for coaches. 

Diakité says they’re here to learn from local coaches and exchange information.

"Trainers always need to take the opportunities to train themselves as well, because you have so much new stuff out there, and there's always so many things for coaches to learn to teach the kids," said Diakité.

"So it's very important for coaches to get trained as well, and this is why we're here. But we are not only here to tell them what they need to do, we also want to get their experience and point of view to have an exchange."

Born to a German mother and Malian father, Diakité opted to represent his father’s native country internationally and says most youth players in Germany get to play at professional clubs, which is now what they’re trying to achieve in South Africa.

"The big difference is that, in Germany, you try to get as many talented players to clubs to get them trained on a professional level," he noted.

"Whereas in South Africa, you have so much talent just playing in the fields or on the street, struggling to find adequate facilities where they can show their skills.

"But that's why we're trying to have partners like Prestige [Academy] to get that talent out of the kids and out of the country, because it breaks my heart to see so much talent not able to show what they can do.

"And you definitely have talented players here, you just need to work with them and get them to a level where they can really explore and get better."

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