From the fairway to the world stage: Nkululeko Ndaliso's footgolf dream

In the dynamic world of sports, new disciplines are constantly emerging, captivating athletes and fans alike with their unique blends of skill and strategy.

One such sport rapidly gaining traction, particularly across Africa, is footgolf – an exciting hybrid of soccer and golf. 

At the forefront of this burgeoning movement in South Africa is Nkululeko Ndaliso, a passionate athlete with a compelling dream: to become a world champion in footgolf, proudly representing his nation on the global stage.

The Tembisa teen's journey into footgolf began, as it often does, through a chance encounter. 

“I first came across soccer golf through a friend who was already playing at the time and invited me to give it a try,” he recounts. What started as a casual invitation quickly blossomed into an undeniable passion.

 “After playing for the first time, I instantly loved it. It’s competitive but still relaxed and social - a sport where you can challenge yourself while having fun.”

For Ndasliso, footgolf offered a new avenue to channel his lifelong love for soccer. Having not quite made it professionally in traditional soccer, he saw footgolf as a serendipitous second chance. 

“I discovered footgolf - and I felt like maybe the universe was showing me another way,” he explains. “Soccer golf allows me to use the skills I’ve built over the years in a new and exciting setting. It challenges me to think differently, stay focused and keep growing, while still having fun.” 

Beyond the individual challenge, the sport has also provided him with a strong sense of community, connecting him with "passionate players from different places who share the same love for the game.”

The concept of combining soccer and golf originated in Europe in the early 2000s and has since evolved into an official international sport under the Federation for International FootGolf (FIFG). Africa has embraced this global trend, establishing its own governing body, the African FootGolf Association (AFGA), which Ndaliso commends for its "amazing work growing the game on the continent.” 

Footgolf involves kicking a standard soccer ball into oversised holes on a golf course, with the objective of completing each hole in the fewest kicks possible. It's a sport that demands precision, control and a strategic mind – attributes that Dlangisa has cultivated throughout his athletic career.

Ndaliso is now preparing for a pivotal moment in his footgolf career in a major tournament scheduled from November 20 to 25, 2025, at the Elephant Hills Golf Course in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. 

This event, according to Ndaliso, is not just another competition; it’s one of Africa’s largest footgolf gatherings, attracting top players from across the continent. 

“This is an incredible opportunity to represent South Africa and be part of a sport that’s still growing and full of potential,” he emphasizes. The stakes are particularly high as this tournament serves as a crucial qualifier for the upcoming FootGolf World Cup in Mexico, making it "an even more important step in my journey to represent the country on a global stage.”

However, Ndaliso's’s ambition faces a significant hurdle. As footgolf is still a developing sport in South Africa, players are largely responsible for their own expenses.

“Because footgolf is still a developing sport in South Africa, players cover their own travel and participation costs,” he reveals. To overcome this financial barrier and ensure his participation in the Zimbabwean tournament, Dlangisa is actively seeking sponsorship to cover "travel, accommodation and tournament entry fees.”