Unforgettable experiences for South African youth development travel group

Alongside numerous training sessions on the artificial turf pitches of the WOLFGANG FRANK CAMPUS with Mainz 05 coaches, the highlight of the trip was attending the Bundesliga home match against FC Bayern München. As part of a meet & greet with former Mainz 05 player Philipp Wollscheid, the 33 participants had the opportunity to ask questions and take memorable photos with the former Germany international ahead of kick-off.

A particularly special moment came for the two youngest players in the group, Shaka Xulu and Vini Ferreira, who got the chance to be mascots for the game. As they walked onto the MEWA Arena pitch, they stood just metres away from their idols, creating an unforgettable experience in front of a sold-out crowd and one they will cherish for a lifetime.

“This trip was a unique and truly unforgettable one. Last year’s experience was already fantastic, but this time around it left me speechless. We want to thank everyone who made this week possible, and we will definitely return to Mainz in 2025 with an even larger group,” said CEO of The Football Union, David Ribeiro.

Adding to the excitement, Nozibusiso Sibiya, a highly popular media representative from Bundesliga partner SABC, was present throughout the entire week. She was deeply impressed by the atmosphere and her experiences, not only attending the match but also conducting numerous interviews and getting an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Mainz 05.

“We are thrilled by the outstanding feedback. It makes us very proud that our work is being recognized in this way, and that we can bring Mainz 05 and the Bundesliga closer to people through unique experiences. In 2025, together with our partner Schächter Sports, we have many more initiatives planned in our target markets across North America and Africa, and we look forward to many exciting projects,” said head of partner management & internationalisation at 1. FSV Mainz 05, Jonas Revers.