About us
Building future champions
Through discipline, passion and professional football development — on the pitch in Mthatha since 2024.
- Founded
- 2024
- Age groups
- 5
- Players
- 50
Our story
Talent everywhere. Opportunity for all.
Mercy Football Development Academy is a youth football academy in Mthatha, Eastern Cape, developing players from grassroots to elite youth level. We give them a structured, disciplined environment to grow as footballers and as responsible individuals.
Ziyanda Mercy Qikani founded the academy out of a deep passion for youth development and community empowerment through sport — to create opportunities for young players who have talent but limited access to proper football development structures.
We believe football is a powerful tool for transformation, education and opportunity. Here, every player gets the chance to grow, believe and succeed.
Our mission
To provide quality training, mentorship and development programmes for U11 to U19 youth — using football to build discipline, confidence, teamwork and positive community impact.
Our vision
To become a leading football development academy in the Eastern Cape, producing disciplined, skilled and professional footballers who can compete locally and internationally.
What we stand for
Values on and off the pitch
The people behind the academy
Coaching & management
Grow, believe and succeed with us.
Trial registration takes a few minutes. Players from all our age groups are welcome.