Celtic Wanderers Football Club seeks support to uplift local youth
The Celtic Wanderers have junior and senior teams.
Image: Supplied
A Cape Town football club is appealing for financial assistance to bring some cheer to players who deserve to be celebrated.
The Celtic Wanderers Football Club was established in 2010 and has become a sporting home to about 110 juniors and 40 seniors.
The team, which has players from the Salt River, Woodstock, Observatory, Bonteheuwel, Langa, Mfuleni, and Athlone, caters to aspiring and avid players from all walks of life.
Speaking to IOL, the club’s Director of Football, Tashreeq Isaacs, 40, from Salt River, explained that the club is trying its best to improve the facility being used and is currently awaiting maintenance from the City of Cape Town is taking too long.
He said the mission of the football club extends beyond the pitch, providing structured sports programmes, mentorship, and outreach initiatives that foster a safe and inclusive environment for youth to develop into confident and responsible individuals.
Children from various areas are part of the club and remain dedicated to the sport.
Image: Supplied
The club, which is a registered non-profit organisation (NPO), does not even have a dressing room for players to change during training or game day.
Isaacs said female players have to dress in a car.
"The lights are not conducive to night games, and most of the children do not have the basics, such as boots to play the beautiful game."
He said he wants to build a clubhouse for the football and the greater community of Salt River and Woodstock.
"This is where we give back via education with extra classes (such as maths, English, and Xhosa classes), free physiotherapy for the elderly, and to teach individuals to work with their hands, e.g., welding, computers, etc.
"So we reinvest in the community by upskilling them. Then we can redo their CV and apply for college for them to study further. And one of our big goals is to take players on a life skills tour for seven days. They have never been outside of Cape Town before,” Isaacs said.
While facing a myriad of challenges, the club believes that through football, it can shape the lives of young people and positively contribute to the community.
As the end of the football season nears, the club hopes to host its annual Gala Dinner that celebrates all the achievements and hard work from its players, coaches, and volunteers.
“This special occasion provides a platform for us to acknowledge the dedication and perseverance of our young athletes, while also bringing together our community to celebrate the power of football. We are reaching out to explore potential sponsorship opportunities for this year's Gala Dinner,” Isaacs said.
He said the hope is to host the event in November, but unfortunately, they do not have funding for this.
“Your support would enable us to host a memorable evening that not only recognises the outstanding efforts of our players but also strengthens our relationships with our stakeholders.
“In return for sponsorship, we would be delighted to offer various branding opportunities, including event promotion, speaking rights, and recognition during the ceremony. Beyond the Gala Dinner, we are also seeking sponsors to support our club's operations for the year 2026. As a non-profit organisation, we rely heavily on the generosity of our partners to continue delivering our programmes and services,” Isaac explained.
He told IOL the costs of running the NPO increase annually, and receiving any support would help in sustaining the club’s mission.
“Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of our players and the broader community. We would be honoured to discuss this further and explore how anyone can partner with us to make a lasting impact,” Isaacs said.
The Celtic Wanderers can be contacted via Tashreeq Isaacs at 073 381 8826 or via email at tashreeq1@gmail.com.
robin.francke@iol.co.za
IOL