Welcome to Drakenstein Hope Academy

Drakenstein Hope Academy was the first official Hope Academy launched in South Africa in January 2008. Drakenstein is a specialist Academy set in Drakenstein Prison in Paarl which is 1 hour outside of Cape Town, South Africa.

The prison holds historic significance as Nelson Mandela was released from Drakenstein in 1994. During the apartied struggle football was used to bring hope and sanity to political prisoners on Robin Island where Mandela was a prisoner. Mandela loved to watch the games from his cell and enjoyed watching his fellow prisoners play the beautiful game, until this priveledge was stopped by prison officials. Years later Drakenstein Hope Academy carries on this legacy bringing hope to juvenile offenders around the Western Cape through football.

Drakenstein Hope Academy is special and unique on many fronts. When launched it became the first elite prison football academy in South African history. The Academy attracts and recruits the top juvenile football players from prisons around the Western Cape. The Academy in 2009 participated in an outside league and won both the league and cup double without losing a game.

Ambassadors In Sport have 8 years expierence in prison football development and the Hope Academy model was developed through seeing the talent and need within Correctional Centres. Many of these young men are caught up in prison gangs, come from disadvantaged backgrounds, are uneducated and have little hope in life. The Academy has restored hope in so many of these young men. We are proud to say that many of our graduates have gone on to live crime free lives, go back to school or college, find employment, play on soccer teams and become responsible citizens in society.

Click here to watch a video on YouTube featuring the Drakenstein Hope Academy.