Jabu Mtwa

For Jabu Mtwa, 23, sport was never just about the final whistle — it was a gateway to leave his mark. Now in his final year of an LLB at the University of the Witwatersrand, Jabu juggles academic excellence with a growing portfolio of sport-led initiatives. As an International Olympic Committee (IOC) Young Leader, he champions sport as a tool for youth development across Africa. He’s building a non- profit that uses sport to create work opportunities for young people, an effort that echoes the same grit with which he built Golden City Football Club, a youth academy he founded at just 20. Jabu also co-founded the  Africa Business of Sport Podcast. With more than 150 episodes and listenership in about 120 countries, the podcast has featured global voices from the IOC and the Confederation of African  Football to CNN. Under his leadership, it partnered with OmniAudio radio to make the show accessible data-free to 300 million MTN users. Through initiatives like Young African Leaders in Sport and the  Novaneer Podcast, Jabu shapes conversations around sport, education and youth leadership. Whether it’s scaling bold ideas or influencing sport policy, Jabu is transforming the African sport ecosystem.

• Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Law, University of the Witwatersrand
• Bachelor of Laws (LLB), University of the Witwatersrand
• Completed two specialised qualifications: Sports management, University of Cape Town –  Sports Law, University of Pretoria

• Founded Golden City Football Club at age 20. Starting a community football club and youth academy from the ground up in Ormonde, Johannesburg, was both a personal and professional turning point. I led everything from securing training facilities and forming league teams to negotiating partnerships and even selling a minority equity stake that valued the club at over $7 000 within just six months. Managing this project taught me how to think like an entrepreneur, problem-solve under pressure and build a team culture in resource-constrained environments.
• Co-founded and growing the Africa Business of Sport Podcast, from scratch into a globally respected sports media platform. Over nearly three years, we have produced more than 150 episodes, featured on outlets such as CNN and NewzRoom Afrika, and built a global audience in over 120 countries. The podcast has become a tool for reshaping the narrative of African sport business and a platform for some of the continent’s most important voices — from IOC executives to CAF leaders. 

One of my biggest inspirations is Vusi Thembekwayo. His journey as a dynamic entrepreneur and thought leader in Africa, combined with his fearless approach to business and leadership, has deeply influenced how I view innovation, resilience and impact. Vusi’s ability to challenge the status quo and speak boldly about business and leadership has encouraged me to be confident in my vision and to keep pushing boundaries. At the same time, my mother has been an incredible role model. As an entrepreneur running her own catering business, she has shown me the value of hard work, dedication and managing a business with passion and care. Watching her navigate challenges and build something from the ground up inspired me to pursue entrepreneurship and leadership with the same commitment and spirit. Together, these role models have helped shape my mindset and ambitions, teaching me both the power of bold leadership and the importance of perseverance and integrity in building sustainable success.