The sound of shuttles flying across the hall echoes through the Polica Sports Federation in Cairo, Egypt. Laughter, quick footsteps, and the energy of young players fill the air. For five days, from 23 to 27 October 2025, this vibrant venue has become home to some of Africa’s most promising badminton talents, all gathered for the BCA Youth Camp 2025.
This year’s Youth Camp, organized by the Badminton Confederation of Africa (BCA), has brought together 14 young athletes from five countries: Egypt, Ghana, Mauritius, Nigeria, and South Africa.
For many, it’s their first taste of international badminton training. The court has become a place not only for physical growth but also for personal reflection, teamwork, and cultural exchange.
The main goal of the BCA Youth Camp is to help young African players reach higher levels and prepare them for international competitions. The camp provides high-quality coaching, modern training methods, and important life lessons.
The training is led by three expert coaches: Coach Mahmoud Ezzat and Coach Alaa Youssef from Egypt, and Coach Dillan Schaap from South Africa. Each coach brings a different style, experience, and approach, creating a complete and enjoyable learning atmosphere.
To make sure the right players were chosen, the BCA used a detailed and fair selection process. Players were selected based on their BWF Junior World Ranking, their performance in recent African tournaments, and their discipline and motivation.
Reports from national federations, coaches, and the BCA’s Talent Identification Programme were also considered. Players were grouped in the U15 and U17 categories, giving young athletes the chance to grow early in their careers.
This careful selection shows that the camp is not just for participation, but for developing real future stars who can represent Africa proudly at international level.
Each day at the camp was full of energy and learning. Morning sessions began with warm-up drills, stretching, and physical training to improve speed, strength, and agility. Then came on-court sessions focusing on footwork, shot accuracy, and match tactics.
Afternoon sessions were dedicated to real-game practice, where players applied what they learned under the watchful eyes of the coaches.
In the evenings, the focus shifted from badminton to personal development. Classroom sessions covered topics such as Dual Career, Integrity in Sport, and Life Skills, helping players understand the importance of education, honesty, and discipline in their journey.
Elsa How Hong from Mauritius, one of the camp participants, shared her excitement in an interview with BCA TV:
“I am so happy to form part in the BCA Youth Camp 2025 together with two tournaments as this has helped me to raise my level and also meet my friends. I am also very motivated with the fact that I am playing with new and better players in this camp so that I can measure my weakness and strengths. The coaches are also very supportive and they are providing many technical and tactical aspects to improve our game. I would like to thank the BCA from the bottom of my heart for this initiative and I hope that there will be more.”
Elsa’s words perfectly express the impact that this initiative has on young players. The camp not only helps them improve their game but also builds their confidence, motivation, and love for badminton.
Omar Abdelaziz – Egypt
“It’s an incredible experience to have this camp here in my home country. I have learned so much from all the coaches and from my new friends. Every day I feel more confident and more focused. I have improved my footwork, my speed, and also my thinking during matches. This camp has inspired me to train harder so I can represent Egypt and Africa proudly in the future.”
Omar’s message shows the pride and excitement of hosting an international event in Egypt. For him and many others, this camp was not just about badminton, it was about discovering new possibilities.
Coach Dillan Schaap – South Africa
“What makes this camp so special is the hunger and enthusiasm of these young athletes. They are eager to learn, and every session you can see their progress. This is the kind of energy that will take African badminton to the next level. The unity here in Cairo is inspiring — players from different countries training together, supporting each other, and growing as one team.”
Coach Dillan’s words reflect the BCA’s vision: one Africa, one team, one future.
The BCA believes that badminton is more than just a sport. It teaches values, teamwork, respect, discipline, and perseverance. The Youth Camp helps young athletes understand that success on the court goes hand in hand with good character off the court.
Many players shared that they learned how to balance sports and studies, how to stay calm under pressure, and how to communicate better with teammates and coaches. These life lessons are as important as the skills they learn on court.
Looking Ahead
As the BCA Youth Camp 2025 ends, one thing is clear, Africa’s badminton future looks bright. The players leave Cairo stronger, more confident, and ready for the next step in their journey.
The BCA will continue to organise similar youth programmes and camps across the continent to make sure more young players get the same chance to grow and shine.
Through passion, teamwork, and opportunity, the Badminton Confederation of Africa is building not only stronger players, but stronger leaders for tomorrow.
The courts in Cairo may be quiet now, but the spirit of the Youth Camp will continue, in every young athlete who returns home with a heart full of dreams and the determination to make Africa proud.
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