For the second time in 2025, Lucas returned to Leeds United – and once again, the trip delivered far more than football.

This December visit blended elite Premier League results, international academy collaboration, and deeply moving community impact sessions powered by the Leeds United Foundation.

It was football in its fullest form – performance, purpose and people.

Elland Road was electric.

Leeds secured two enormous results in the Premier League:

• Leeds United v Chelsea – a statement evening under the lights.
• Leeds United v Liverpool – a 17h30 kick-off that had the city bouncing.

Back-to-back results against two of England’s biggest clubs showed belief, growth and momentum. For Lucas, being inside Elland Road for both occasions wasn’t just about matchday hospitality – it was about witnessing the power of a club rebuilding its identity with conviction.

South Africa Meets Yorkshire: Kaizer Chiefs Academy Crossover

A special highlight was the crossover with the Kaizer Chiefs Academy, who were in the UK on a pre-season tour.

Their visit included fixtures against the Leeds U21 Academy boys – a brilliant exchange of cultures, methodologies and ambition. Seeing young South African talent test themselves against English opposition reinforced something we believe strongly at Forwardzone:

Exposure accelerates growth.

These are the bridges that matter – pathways between continents, academies and opportunity.

The AMT x Leeds United Foundation Pan-Disability Session

One of the most powerful moments of the trip came at the AMT x Foundation pan-disability activation.

Children played football from an international lad playing on crutches as a single leg amputee, some living with cerebral palsy, some on the autism spectum and other across a wide spectrum of disabilities. And they played with joy.

The session, supported by club ambassadors and the Foundation, wasn’t about limitation. It was about ability. Courage. Confidence.

Huge respect to the Leeds United Foundation and their partners such as AMT for consistently leading in this space. Their work proves that football isn’t just inclusive – it can be transformative.

As Lucas reflected afterwards:

“It changes your perspective instantly. Football becomes bigger than results.”

More about this session and story can be found on LUFC’s page: https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/club-ambassadors-feature-at-amt-and-foundation-disability-event

Another deeply touching engagement included the Foundation’s continued support for Pepe and his family as well as other elderly participants – a reminder that community impact isn’t always loud or public. Sometimes it’s consistent, personal and life-changing behind the scenes.

That is real legacy work.

More about this session and story can be found on LUFC’s page: https://www.leedsunited.com/en/news/leeds-united-foundation-continue-support-for-pepe-and-family

Inspiring the Next Generation: Schools & Academies

The week also included sessions across primary and academy-level schools:

• Primary Schools: Leadership, responsibility and confidence.
• Academy Players: Resilience, setbacks and the mindset required to make it.

From Gildersome Primary to Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy and Abbey Grange, the message was clear:

Talent gets you noticed. Character keeps you there.

Celebrating a Legend: The Wilko92 Luncheon

The Wilko92 luncheon celebrated the legacy of Howard Wilkinson, the man who guided Leeds to the 1992 First Division title. The event was more than nostalgia – it was a reminder of standards, culture and what it takes to build something enduring.

A Global Fanbase: Scandinavia in Leeds

The trip also included the Leeds United Supporters Club of Scandinavia Christmas Dinner – an incredible evening highlighting how far this club travels.

From Yorkshire to Johannesburg to Stockholm, Leeds’ reach is global. The passion is borderless.

Why This Trip Mattered

Lucas’ visit to Leeds wasn’t just about attending fixtures.

It was about:

• Building international relationships
• Deepening Foundation partnerships
• Observing best-in-class community integration
• Strengthening global football networks
• And experiencing Premier League football at its most authentic

At Forwardzone, we believe football is an ecosystem – elite performance at the top, grassroots impact at the base, and education throughout.

December 2025 in Leeds reminded us exactly why we do what we do.

Performance. Purpose. Pathways.

#LucasRadebe #LUFC #LeedsUnited #GlobalAmbassador