RB Leipzig’s post-season tour plans in South Africa | OneFootball

From 26th to 30th May, RB Leipzig will travel to South Africa for the first time in the club’s history. As part of the “RE KAOFELA” – meaning “all together” – post-season tour, the Red Bulls are set for a special week in a football-mad country that hosted the 2010 FIFA World Cup and won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996.

RBL will set off for South Africa on Monday evening and land in Johannesburg on Tuesday morning. Fans in Germany will not need to adjust their clocks, with South Africa in the same time zone as Leipzig.

Here’s what awaits the Red Bulls during the trip and why the friendly against Mamelodi Sundowns is set to be the clear sporting highlight.

Base Camp in Johannesburg

With around six million people, Johannesburg is one of Africa’s largest metropolitan areas – dynamic, diverse and shaped by the cultural breadth of a country with 12 official languages.

This is where the Red Bulls will be based during the tour. Training sessions will take place at the Wits Academy in the vibrant Braamfontein district. A public training session will also be held on Thursday in the university’s rugby stadium, which has been specially converted for the occasion.

It is also worth noting that, although South Africa is already in meteorological winter, RBL can expect pleasant conditions. Temperatures can climb as high as 20 degrees Celsius during the day.

Friendly against Mamelodi Sundowns

One of the highlights of the trip will come on Friday evening in Pretoria, when RB Leipzig face Mamelodi Sundowns at the historic Lucas Moripe Stadium.

Sundowns are 15-time South African champions, won the CAF Champions League in 2016 and have been one of the defining clubs in African football for years.

Shortly before the Red Bulls arrive, Mamelodi also have the decisive second leg of the African Champions League final away to FAR Rabat on Sunday. Sundowns won the first leg against the Moroccan side 1-0.

Experiencing South Africa's sporting culture up close

Alongside their football sessions on the pitch, the Red Bulls will also get to know two of South Africa’s most popular sports: cricket and rugby.

Players and staff will gain authentic insights into the country’s sporting culture through dedicated training sessions. Among other activities, several RBL first-team players will take part in a joint session with the Vodacom Bulls rugby team.

Local artist Yay Abe has also created a bespoke number design for the back of the new 2026/27 RBL home shirt. They will be worn in the friendly against Sundowns.

Community, culture and engagement

Alongside the sessions on the pitch and the friendly against Mamelodi Sundowns, RB Leipzig’s time in South Africa will also be about getting to know the region better and engaging with people on the ground.

At a Pantsula dance workshop, the Red Bulls will experience an important part of South African dance culture, while their match against Mamelodi Sundowns will bring them closer to local people, fans and traditions.

Youth development will also play an important role during the trip. RBL first-team players will meet with young talents in a variety of ways, in addition to coaching teams and sharing special moments on the pitch.

That will make the week not only intense from a sporting perspective, but also a trip full of new encounters, impressions and fresh perspectives – before RBL head back to Leipzig on Saturday evening.

Fußballformate für die nächste Generation

Natürlich rollt auch abseits der Einheiten und des Testspiels der Ball: Bei Red Bull 1-Pal treten acht Teams in einem schnellen 3v3-Knockout-Format gegeneinander an. RBL-Spieler begleiten die Aktivierung, treffen die Teilnehmenden und steigen in ein Mixed-Team-Friendly ein.

Zudem lädt PUMA junge Talente im Alter von 12 bis 14 Jahren von Stars of Africa und der Sundowns Youth Academy zu einem Turnier ein. Spieler von RB Leipzig und den Mamelodi Sundowns coachen die Teams, dazu sorgt eine besondere Freestyle-Session für zusätzliche Action auf dem Platz.

Zurück nach Leipzig

Am Samstagabend geht es für den RBL-Tross zurück nach Sachsen, am Sonntagmorgen werden die Roten Bullen wieder in der Messestadt erwartet.

Eine intensive Woche, ein starker Gegner und viele neue Eindrücke: Südafrika wartet, die Roten Bullen schreiben das nächste Kapitel ihrer internationalen Tour-Geschichte.

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