Mlungisi “Coach Jack” Msibi transformed an abandoned facility into a thriving community centre and built SA’s first national blind football team,earning Young Mandela recognition for his inclusive sports vision.
Rosetta Msimango/News24
Name: Mlungisi “Coach Jack” MsibiCategory: Social JusticeAge: 32Location: South Hills,Johannesburg,Gauteng
Born with a name that means “the one who brings the solution”,Mlungisi “Coach Jack” Msibi lives up to his destiny as the founder of Corinthians Africa and coach of South Africa’s first national blind football team.
His transformative work in sports development and technology education has earned him the honour of being a News24 Young Mandela for 2025 in the social justice category.
What began as a humble takeover of an abandoned facility in 2019 has blossomed into a thriving community centre that offers netball,cricket,soccer,and a STEM programme for local youth.
“We took this facility over in 2019,just before Covid,and we started asking ourselves,what do we do here?” Coach Jack recalls. “We’re not registered,we don’t have money. But we call the same community to help us in fixing up this place. And that’s how this place became what it is now.”
ADVERTISEMENT
The seeds of his most impactful initiative were planted unexpectedly when two visually impaired children arrived at his facility.
“Two blind kids were coming. They were interested in playing football,” Coach Jack explains.
“One of them was completely blind,the other one was partially sighted.
And when they came here,they said they wanted to play. In my mind,I was like,‘these guys can’t see,how are they going to play soccer?’.”
ADVERTISEMENT
This moment of doubt quickly transformed into curiosity and action.
“I was researching it and I found out that blind soccer is a big thing. And so this is where I approached the Johannesburg Society for the Blind.”
That initial encounter with two hopeful children sparked a revolution in South African blind sports.
Blind soccer is played with four outfield players and one goalkeeper. They play with a specialised ball that makes a noise so the players can follow it. All outfield players are required to wear eye covers during play. Coach Jack currently has 15 players.
Under Coach Jack’s guidance,the national blind football team achieved remarkable success at the inaugural BRICS International Blind Football Friendly Tournament,bringing home multiple accolades and international recognition.
The initiative has expanded beyond competitive sports into skills development. In August 2023,Corinthians Africa partnered with SAFA (South African Football Association) to provide visually impaired players with a Blind Soccer Coaching Course.
“Each player in our visually impaired soccer team has a unique story,” Coach Jack shares.
“They were once fully-abled individuals who,due to unforeseen circumstances,experienced visual impairments. While transitioning to this new phase of life presented numerous challenges,they persevered.”
Alongside the blind football programme,Coach Jack established the STEM Centre in La Rochelle.
This centre addresses the technology gap in underserved communities and provides creative outlets for youth in an area plagued by high crime rates.
Throughout his journey,Coach Jack has found strength in spiritual wisdom.
This philosophy guides his approach to community building: he sees potential where others see limitation and opportunity where others see barriers.
“And He said to me,‘My grace is sufficient for you,for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore,most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities,” says the organisation’s namesake scripture - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. “For when I am weak,then I am strong.”
ADVERTISEMENT
When asked about being nominated as a News24 Young Mandela,Coach Jack connected his work to Nelson Mandela’s legacy as a humble but strong agent of change.
“To be nominated for the Young Mandela for me is to be acknowledged as a disruptor in society. We need to disrupt. We must challenge systems. We will challenge,but we will overcome.”
Where others saw an empty,neglected field,Coach Jack envisioned a space of possibility - not just for sports but also for community transformation,technological innovation,and genuine inclusion.
His work is a testimony to the power of seeing beyond limitations,whether those imposed by society or physical ability.
To get in touch with Coach Jack directly,contact her on [email protected].
Go back to Young Mandelas 2025.
United News - unews.co.za