24 Jul 2017
During the summer of 2017, the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart reached out to support students at Berea-Albion Football Club and Academy, South Africa, where disadvantaged youths are given hope and encouragement as they strive for a better future.
Cougar Park in Pretoria, South Africa, is home to Berea-Albion Football Club and Academy, which was established in 2009 by Stephen Haupt and Neil Bosman.
Students of the academy live in Cougar Park on a full-time basis, where they are entirely devoted to pursuing their dreams of playing football at a professional level while also learning essential social skills and receiving academic tuition. “The majority of disadvantaged youths in our development programmes are orphans, or they come from single parent families,” says co-founder Neil Bosman. “They have struggled with poverty, HIV/AIDS, abuse, alcoholism, and poor educational backgrounds.”
The academy is situated on 4.2 hectares of land in the Magaliesberg Mountains of Pretoria. Here, the rough grassland of the mountainous terrain has been developed to create a working football club and academy where students can fully focus on their studies without the distractions of urban life.
The academy is currently home to 50 students, who share two full-sized playing fields, a small pitch, a gym, a pool, a study centre, and a residential area.
“Excellent preparation for the next step in education, in work, and in life.”
At Cougar Park, students also attend Bosman College, where the focus is on providing “a sound education base” as well as full professional training in football. The academy aims to promote “a sense of structure that is conducive to diligent and consistent academic performance, while also allowing the necessary flexibility for the training programme”.
The 30-week academic courses are run via the University of Cambridge’s International Examinations programme, which are designed to give each student an “excellent preparation for their next steps in education, in work, and in life”. Students receive support from tutors as they gain experience in practical problem-solving and social skills, while also networking with fellow students from around the world. A trained facilitator oversees the students’ daily progress, and written exams take place at a local accredited exam centre.
“Passio Pro Perfecto”
The academy’s motto is “Passio Pro Perfecto” (a passion for perfection), and the Missionaries of the Sacred Heart are delighted to be able to support both staff and students in their future endeavours as they pursue their passion.
“We sincerely thank you for your generous donation of €10,000, and particularly for your support and interest in our youth development programmes. Your donation is being put to very good use as we make sure that our young footballers are housed, clothed, educated, trained, and nutritiously fed at Cougar Park.”
Neil Bosman, co-founder of Berea-Albion Academy
The Berea-Albion Academy Mission
• To provide the best football development programme in South Africa, and to compete with the best internationally.
• To promote skills and expertise locally, and to develop a culture of good sportsmanship, friendship, and hospitality.
• To develop self-belief in our players, and to create a safe and enjoyable environment within a self-sustainable facility.
• To establish a passion for perfection (“Passio Pro Perfecto”).