In the vibrant and often-unforgiving landscape of South Africa, some stories resonate not for their success, but for their raw authenticity. This is the story of Coach Bongani ‘Bobo’ Mathiso, a coach and mentor with the Oasis organisation, who has taken the lessons of his past and used them to lift others.

In 2012, Bobo captained the South African Homeless World Cup team in Mexico City.

The following year, in 2013, he became the assistant coach, a position he held until being promoted to head coach just last year. Now, 13 years later, he and his team are preparing for this year’s 2025 Homeless World Cup in Oslo, Norway, which kicks off from the 23rd to the 30th of August.

Having sat down with Coach Bobo last week, Bongani and I spoke about his life, his work, and his unshakeable belief that everyone deserves a second chance. His story serves as the basis for his ideology that true leadership isn’t about being an untouchable ‘global jetsetter’ but more about walking the same path as those you guide. 

From Hardship to a Life of Purpose 

Coach Bobo’s story reminds us that a difficult background can be the source of one’s strength. He spoke to IOL about his youth growing up in the “dusty streets of Modena, Eastern Cape, I played football barefoot.” He openly admits that he and his peers were ‘bound to make mistakes’ and sometimes ‘caught up in doing the wrong things, along with many social ills.

This honest reflection provides a critical insight into the systemic issues that many face within South African communities. He doesn’t shy away from the darker moments, recalling a “fast-paced life with no sleep for days at a time while partying and drinking.”

He also shares the tragic reality of his environment, where he survived many incidents in which he lost his closest friends. Bobo’s life story is a history that is not a burden but has become the foundation of his empathetic heart and guiding soul.

His upbringing in the Eastern Cape has enabled Coach Bobo to connect with the young people he coaches on a personal level, understanding their struggles through his own lived experiences. It is this shared understanding that led to a core belief in his work, which is a fundamental part of his work: “listen, not to fix, but just to be heard,” he expressed. 

“My name means ‘give thanks, ‘” Bobo tells IOL. This reminder of his gratitude for his life’s journey has led him to a life of service, a journey that is as much about survival as it is about learning. He also expressed his pride in his roots, saying, “Modena, Eastern Cape, that’s my roots, my pride, where I feel I’ve grown up, I’ve learned a lot in life in general.”

He was also the captain in the movie The Beautiful Game. Coach Bobo is proof that against all odds, it is possible to stand firm. He adds a poignant reminder of the mission at this year’s tournament “our wish is to honour and maybe to win the Homeless World Cup, but of course, our primary objective is to win the lives of our players.”

Coaching with Humility and Trust

Coach Bobo’s coaching philosophy departs from traditional, top-down hierarchical models of leadership, as he has fostered a holistic approach. Coach Bobo believes that genuine leadership is built on the essential non-negotiables of trust and shared experiences, making a conscious effort to live the same life as his players. “I sleep with them in the same room, I eat what they eat, there’s nothing special just because I’m the coach,” he explains. “We share and do everything together,” Coach Bobo expresses.

His hands-on, empathetic approach is central to his mission of building a cohesive and trusting team environment. Bobo explains that for a team to work effectively, trust must be the foundation.

He illustrates the on-pitch mentality he desires for his team. He instills the understanding that ‘if I need to pass the ball to you but don’t trust you, I will go elsewhere, jeopardising the rest of the team. This metaphor for teamwork teaches his players that success is a collective responsibility, built on faith in one another.

Coach Bobo’s rare humility exemplifies a two-way street of learning. His holistic approach is self-described as an immersive form of alternative “reverse sports psychology” where he learns from his players as much as they learn from him. A philosophy of “teach me, teacher”. Coach Bobo strengthens this bond by being transparent about his imperfections, “I can be wrong sometimes. I can be wrong. And I must agree with it. And to take responsibility for that,” he tells IOL.

This vulnerability makes him a relatable and trustworthy mentor, vulnerability shown through his years of undeniable dedication and resilience. 

The ‘Three-Legged Stool’ Approach  

Under the OASIS organisation and Coach ‘Bobo’s guidance, OASIS is more than a footballing club. For Coach Bobo, OASIS and football go “hand-in-hand and provide a lifeline”.

Coach Bobo says that the OASIS program utilises football to impart life skills, assisting children in avoiding the social problems he experienced as a youth, which dismantles conventional support, as these aren’t as they appear.

Coach Bobo references a parent who contacted him because their child “doesn’t listen to me anymore”. For Bongani, his belief in the “three-legged stool of a coach, a parent, and a teacher” is essential for a child’s development, with Oasis filling a crucial, foundational gap, providing the resources for Coach Bobo’s vision to come to life. 

The Homeless World Cup, Norway 2025

As for this year’s journey to Norway, the Homeless World Cup is the pinnacle of the OASIS programme, which seeks to provide players with opportunities for profound change.

Bongani recounts various challenges faced in past years in preparation for the tournament, including financial constraints that forced them to take “six players instead of eight to South Korea last year”. Despite the setbacks, the team’s performance was a source of great pride: “We’ve represented the country with dignity and pride we fought for our flag”.

The Homeless World Cup is a unique and powerful tournament specifically designed for personal growth rather than just winning. This highlights that teams stay for the entire duration of the tournament, regardless of their performance, unlike the Rugby World Cup or FIFA World Cup, which send losing teams home and at the end of the day, “you always have something to play for, you get to stay till the end to see everything, that’s powerful, and that’s why the HWC is so unique,” Coach Bobo explains. 

Coach Bobo believes this powerful metaphor for life encourages players to “push and make sure they represent their country next year,” he tells IOL. Overall, the HWC programme is designed to create a sustainable future for its participants, whereby “cleaner pastures” take place, as Coach Bobo puts it regarding life outside the HWC. 

The Deeper Purpose: Beyond the Pitch

This year’s tournament, same as each year’s, is to provide the players with a platform to be seen, to be heard, and to be valued. Central to Bobo’s philosophy, and a fundamental part of his work, is to “listen, not to fix, but just to be heard.” 

The Homeless World Cup’s rules also reflect life lessons as Coach Bobo explains the concept of a “blue card,” whereby a player is sidelined for two minutes. These two minutes serve as a metaphor for life itself. 

“Crossing the line in life and on the pitch can, and in many cases does have consequences for the whole team,” he explains.

Reinforcing the idea that their actions not only affect themselves but also their community and team members as a whole. 

Cultural Identity to a Lasting Legacy

Coach Bobo, a fierce advocate who believes in his team’s ability to shape cultural identity through their unique South African style of play, is what separates them from various competing nations. 

He encourages the players to be themselves and not to hide their unique flair. He famously tells them, “Don’t hide the Tsamaya. Don’t hide the Shibobo. No. Be yourself”.

This is more than just coaching instruction; it’s a message of empowerment and pride in our nation’s heritage.

Coach Bobo acknowledges that this is not an easy or quick process. “It’s not an overnight mission. It will take time. It takes purpose. It takes a lot.” Yet, he finds immense value in every minor victory, stating that if they can help even one person, “it’s so valuable.”

Through his journey from a challenging past to a life of service, Bongani ‘Bobo’ Mathiso has become more than a coach. He is a mentor, a father figure, and through empathy and personal connection, long-lasting change can be made.

His legacy lies not only in the games won but also in the lives he has helped build, one player at a time.

IOL News

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