About us.
A young foundation with serious implementation capacity. Small-scale, personal and completely transparent.
Mission
Football as means.
Community as goal.
That power is so great that we decided to do something lasting with it. That's how Football is Life was born.
With this foundation, we use football as a means to build communities. To connect people. To bring hope, structure and future to places where that's not self-evident.
The foundation chooses a small-scale, personal and transparent approach, focused on sustainable relationships with committed donors. In the first year we're working on a first flagship project in Soweto, Mzuzu – which will serve as a blueprint for further expansion.
We don't communicate that we're 'helping poor children'. We communicate that we're building with local partners towards future opportunities through football and empowerment.
Board
Three people. One mission.
The board works entirely unpaid. Only actually incurred expenses are claimed, in accordance with ANBI conditions.
Paul van Zwam
Chairman
Sports psychologist since 1998 with experience at sc Heerenveen, Feyenoord, Ajax, PSV, Chelsea FC, Leeds United and the KNVB. Expert in team development and mental coaching. Works at Libre Foundation, an organisation that provides free leadership training to local organisations in developing countries.
Ivo Spanjersberg
Secretary
Senior sports and performance psychologist. Specialist in communication, effective behaviour and managing aggression. Works at Libre Foundation as trainer and coach. Together with Paul, responsible for the methodology behind the Trainer Coach 1 training.
Mano Radema
Treasurer
Entrepreneur and advisor at the intersection of technology, human development and professional sports. Active as AI specialist and trainer for organisations and government. Also involved for years in mental development, team development and performance in professional football, including at Feyenoord, NEC and Heracles. Was involved for ten years in the development of S.V. GIO, the sports and development programme of the Giovanni van Bronckhorst Foundation. Member of the Supervisory Board of SKVR.
In Malawi
Local implementation by local people.
Daily implementation in Mzuzu is carried by a team that knows the community from within.
Crief
Coordinator
Crief coordinates daily activities in Soweto and is the first point of contact for the community.
Sam
Coordinator
Sam provides individual guidance to young people and organises weekly life skills sessions.
Leo
Adviser
Leo advises the team on local context and helps connect schools and organisations.
Isaac
Local coach & coordinator
Isaac guides youth on and off the pitch in Soweto and is a trusted face for the entire community. As a local coach he connects the programme with the neighbourhood and supports the weekly training sessions and life skills sessions.
Ambassadors
Our ambassadors.
Peter Bosz and Bryan Linssen use their names and networks for the visibility and impact of Football is Life.
Peter Bosz
Football ambassador
Top coach with international experience at Ajax, Borussia Dortmund, Bayer Leverkusen and PSV. Two-time Eredivisie champion.
Bryan Linssen
Football ambassador
Professional footballer with extensive Eredivisie experience. Played for Vitesse, Feyenoord and Urawa Red Diamonds. Currently active at NEC.
From LinkedIn
Our latest updates.
How we work
Small-scale, personal,transparent.
Locally embedded
We always work with and through local partners. They know the community – we support and safeguard the approach.
Personal contact
Donors receive direct updates from the field. No bulk emails, but real commitment to the project.
Responsible spending
All funds go to the project. The board works unpaid. Transparent financial accountability.
Scalable model
We start with Soweto as a blueprint. Then we grow to Mzuzu, Rumphi and Nkhata Bay.
Funding
How we raise funds.
Football is Life funds its activities through donations, fundraising and sponsorship. Primarily within the network of the founders in professional sport and business.
- 01
Structural private donations
Fixed donors who support the foundation long-term
- 02
Business sponsorship
Companies committed to the mission
- 03
Fundraising events
Activities for visibility and fundraising
- 04
Training bureau contributions
Internal contributions from founders
- 05
One-off gifts
From wealthy individuals and founder networks
- 06
Future: impact trips
Visitors participate in the project on site
Transparency & ANBI
As an ANBI-certified organisation, donations to Football is Life are tax-deductible. All financial information is available on request.
Full ANBI information →Contact
Stichting Football is Life
Dobbelmannweg 128
6531 KZ Nijmegen
Want to contribute to the project in Soweto?
Donate now →