The KAA Gent Foundation is looking for volunteers for the position of neighborhood sports coach. The foundation of the Belgian top-flight club aims to launch and support weekly neighborhood football activities for young people in Ghent, as reported by the club on its official website on Tuesday, September 8, 2026.
The call comes at a time when the club itself is performing excellently. KAA Gent currently sits first in the Jupiler Pro League with a perfect record of 15 points from five matches. Hein Vanhaezebrouck's team has scored ten goals and conceded only two, resulting in a goal difference of +8. This strong start to the season gives the club a two-point lead over pursuer Union Saint-Gilloise.
What does a neighborhood sports coach do at KAA Gent?
A neighborhood sports coach at the KAA Gent Foundation is responsible for leading weekly football sessions for youth in their local area. The tasks include preparing and conducting the activities, coaching the participants and any assistant coaches, and managing the group. The volunteer also handles sports equipment and performs limited administrative duties. It involves a commitment for a full season, with the weekly schedule being flexible and agreed upon through consultation. Activities take place on Wednesday afternoons or on weekdays after 4:00 PM.
The target group is young people aged 10 and older who live in the neighborhood of the activity location. The KAA Gent Foundation is specifically targeting the districts of Nieuw Gent, Watersportbaan, Sluizeken-Tolhuis-Ham, and Bloemekenswijk. By focusing on these areas, the foundation, which the club says runs the largest social-sports initiative in the country, aims to make football accessible to everyone. Interested candidates can register via an online link or ask questions via the email address vrijwilliger@kaagentfoundation.be.
What do volunteers receive in return for their efforts?
Volunteers who take on the role of neighborhood sports coach receive a fixed allowance of 15 euros per hour. They also get free access to training sessions organized by the KAA Gent Foundation. A special perk is that each volunteer team will attend at least one KAA Gent match per season at the Planet Group Arena. This way, the coaches become part of the wider club family.
The foundation emphasizes that volunteers are part of a nationally unique project. Collaboration with local partners is essential for the success of the activities, and the KAA Gent Foundation explicitly thanks these partners for their support. The initiative fits within the club's social embedding, which maintains a focus on its societal role despite a busy competitive start. The entire squad of the Buffaloes is currently focused on the next challenge: an away match against KRC Genk on Sunday, September 13. Genk is seventh in the standings.
How does this fit within the current club context?
The search for neighborhood sports coaches shows that social commitment is a constant priority for KAA Gent, regardless of sporting results. The club combines a leading position in the league with an active foundation policy. The recruitment drive is a practical implementation of that philosophy, using sport as a tool for social cohesion and personal development.
For interested parties who want to know more about the club behind the foundation, the official website offers extensive stats and information. The KAA Gent Foundation hopes that with this new team of neighborhood sports coaches, it can reach and inspire even more young people in Ghent. The first team's next match is on September 13 against KRC Genk.
