Kick4Life is proud to announce that Kabelo Ngatane, 21, will become the first youngster from its programmes to begin a scholarship opportunity in the United Kingdom when he arrives at Wrexham University in Wales on 18th September.
The announcement was made at a press conference held at Kick4Life on Wednesday, 2nd September, following a partnership between Kick4Life FC, Wrexham University and Wrexham AFC Foundation which began in 2025. The partnership will provide two young people from Kick4Life’s programmes with fully funded tuition to study in Wrexham. Kabelo will study for the Foundation Degree in Football and Community Development at Wrexham University while gaining practical experience through a placement with the Wrexham AFC Foundation.
For Kabelo, the opportunity represents another significant chapter in a journey that began more than a decade ago. He joined the Kick4Life Academy in 2013 at the age of eight, progressing through the organisation’s football, academic and life-skills programmes. During his time at the Academy, he established himself as a talented footballer and promising student, earning national team call-ups at Under-17 and Under-20 level and captaining the national Under-17 side.
His academic achievements have been equally notable. In 2023, Kabelo was recognised among the top 7 excelling students in the Lesotho General Certificate of Secondary Education (LGCSE).
Kabelo’s next chapter will allow him to bring together two areas that have shaped his journey from a young age: football and a desire to create positive change in his community. Through the Foundation Degree in Football and Community Development, he will develop knowledge and practical experience in areas including football coaching, leadership, community engagement and the use of sport as a tool for social change. His placement with the Wrexham AFC Foundation will complement his studies by giving him the opportunity to apply what he learns in a professional community football environment.
For Kabelo, the opportunity is about more than earning a qualification; it is about continuing a journey shaped by football and a desire to make a difference.
“This opportunity means everything to me. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is going to change the trajectory of my life forever. I can’t even put into words the impact it’s going to have, not only on my life but on the lives of others. I joined Kick4Life when I was eight years old, and I have since witnessed countless lives being changed through football. That inspired me to want to use football to change my life and the lives of others.
“Football has always been more than a sport to me. It has always been a powerful tool for community development and social change, especially growing up in the Kick4Life community. I witnessed first-hand how football can ignite hope and create opportunities for young people. Whether through life-skills training or pathways into education and employment, I have seen Kick4Life unite communities and transform lives.”
The scholarship forms part of the wider twinning partnership between Kick4Life FC and Wrexham AFC, established in 2024 and building on the longstanding links between Wales and Lesotho dating back to 1985. The partnership with Wrexham University and Wrexham AFC Foundation represents a further extension of these connections, creating new pathways for young people from Kick4Life’s programmes to access international education and professional development opportunities.
For Kick4Life, Kabelo’s selection is particularly significant because his journey reflects the organisation’s long-term approach to youth development. From joining the Academy as an eight-year-old to representing Lesotho at youth international level, excelling academically and now preparing for an international study opportunity, his story demonstrates what can become possible when young people are supported to develop across football, education and life skills over many years.
For Kick4Life Country Director Motlatsi Nkhahle, Kabelo’s next chapter represents much more than an individual scholarship; it is a tangible example of what the growing relationship between Kick4Life and its partners can achieve.
“Well, Kabelo’s story is very significant to Kick4Life in the sense that it represents the continuation and strengthening of our partnership with Wrexham AFC Foundation, which we established in 2024. We see this fruitful relationship continuing to grow, with the addition of a new partner, Wrexham University, who share Kick4Life and Wrexham AFC Foundation’s commitment to using sport as a force for good.
“Therefore, Kabelo is an embodiment of the relationship between Wrexham AFC and Kick4Life and our shared commitment to using football as a vehicle for social change. Having Wrexham University as part of this partnership also helps us to advance this positive mission.”
The opportunity also highlights the potential of football to open doors well beyond the pitch. Through his studies and placement in Wrexham, Kabelo will gain new qualifications, international experience and practical skills that can help shape his future while strengthening his ability to contribute to others through sport.
As Kabelo prepares to begin the next chapter of his journey in Wrexham, he carries with him the experience of more than a decade of learning, development and opportunity through Kick4Life. From an eight-year-old joining the Academy in 2013 to a young Mosotho preparing to study and work in Wales, his journey is a powerful reminder of the long-term impact of investing in young people’s potential.
