Who we are

An academy born of a shared ambition

Never Give Up Academy is a football academy established in Burundi in July 2023 by co-founders Yves Niyukuri and Jean Bosco Nibitanga.

It was born of a shared ambition: to contribute to the development of Burundian football by offering young players a structured, professional, and motivating environment where they can learn, improve, and fully realize their potential.

We place player development at the heart of our approach, combining athletic training, discipline, guidance, and competitive experience.

Never Give Up — because every talent deserves an opportunity.

Our Vision

To establish Never Give Up Academy as a leading academy in Burundi and East Africa, recognized for the quality of its training, its professionalism, and its ability to discover and nurture young talent—while building partnerships with clubs, academies, agents, and scouts in Burundi, Africa, and Europe.

Our Mission

To identify, train, mentor, and support young footballers, enabling them to reach their full potential across technical, tactical, physical, and mental skills, while fostering discipline, team spirit, and opportunities for growth at both national and international levels.

Our Values

Talent opens the door, but hard work, discipline, and perseverance allow you to walk through it.

Perseverance — no obstacle should stop a young player from pursuing their ambitions, even in the face of adversity.
Discipline — punctuality, adherence to rules, commitment, and a serious attitude in both training and competition.
Hard Work — talent must be paired with constant effort to push one’s own limits.
Respect — respect for teammates, coaches, opponents, referees, and everyone involved in the sport.
Team Spirit — solidarity, mutual support, communication, and the ability to work together toward a common goal. Ambition — believing in one’s abilities, knowing that success is built gradually through hard work.

Our History

July 2023 — Founding

Establishment of the Never Give Up Academy in Burundi by co-founders Yves Niyukuri and Jean Bosco Nibitanga, driven by a desire to contribute to the development of youth football.

Continuous Development

Enhancing the quality of training, participating in competitions, and identifying promising talent.

International Outreach

Gradual development of a partner network involving clubs, academies, agents, and scouts across Africa and Europe.

Today

Our ambition is to build the future: training the talent today that will shape the football of tomorrow.