South Africa’s next generation of padel players received a taste of the professional game when Playtomic brought together the winners of the 2026 FIP Padel Promises South Africa Circuit for an exclusive coaching clinic led by renowned international coach Jorge Martínez.

The clinic, held at Thrashers Padel in Menlyn, gave the young players an opportunity to train under the man who is not only Director of M3 Padel Academy, but also the coach who took world-class padel pair Alejandro Galán and Federico Chingotto to victory in South Africa’s inaugural Premier Padel P1, which brought together the elites of the sport to battle it out at the SunBet Arena. 

For the winners of the 2026 FIP Padel Promises circuit, the session was more than simply another training day. It provided direct access to elite coaching and brought them together with some of South Africa’s leading coaches and players, including celebrated names like Tremayne Mitchell, Debbie van Aswegen, Dino Pavlou, Chevaan Davids and Marne Roos.

For Martínez, the development of young talent is central to the continued growth of the sport.

“At M3 Padel Academy, we believe that the growth of padel depends on creating real opportunities for the next generation of players,” he said.

“Collaborating with Playtomic on this initiative in South Africa is a great way to contribute to the development of the sport in a market with enormous potential. We are proud to be part of a project that not only promotes competition but also invests in talent, education, and the future of padel.”

Padel for the people, not just the professionals

The initiative, organised in partnership with Padel Promises South Africa, is part of Playtomic’s broader commitment to developing padel in the country — with a particular focus on creating opportunities for young players to learn, compete and aspire to reach the highest levels of the sport.

South Africa has emerged as one of Africa’s fastest-growing padel markets, fuelled by increasing participation, new club openings and a rapidly expanding player community. Playtomic currently has more than 460 partner clubs and over 600,000 registered players on its platform in South Africa, while globally its community has grown to more than 4.7 million players across over 6,500 partner clubs in more than 66 countries.

The clinic combined technical and tactical instruction with lessons in teamwork, discipline, dedication and sportsmanship, giving the youngsters a valuable insight into what it takes to progress in the sport.

The clinic also underlined the growing role of Padel Promises South Africa in creating structured pathways for junior players.

“When we launched Padel Promises South Africa, our goal was to give young players opportunities to learn, compete and dream bigger,” said founders Aadila Seedat and Rehaan Anverali.

“Seeing our juniors coached by Jorge Martínez during South Africa’s first Premier Padel P1 is a proud moment, not only for the players, but for everyone who believes in the future of junior padel.”

Padel: A growing movement

With the country’s first Premier Padel P1, the rapidly expanding local padel community has been given an unprecedented opportunity to see the sport’s elite competing on home soil.

But for Playtomic, the ambition extends beyond the professional tournament circuit.

“South Africa hosting its first Premier Padel P1 is a defining moment for the sport, but for Playtomic, the opportunity goes far beyond the tournament itself. We want to help build the next generation of South African champions,” said Romandi de Jongh, Country Manager of Playtomic South Africa.

The company believes that sustainable growth will depend not only on getting more people onto courts, but also on developing the players, coaches and structures that will shape the sport’s future. 

“By partnering with M3 Padel Academy and Padel Promises South Africa, we’re creating opportunities that inspire young athletes, connect them with the very best in the world and leave a lasting legacy for padel in South Africa.”

With padel continuing to gain momentum across the country, initiatives such as the FIP Padel Promises circuit and the Playtomic-backed clinic could prove crucial in turning growing participation into a genuine pathway for elite junior talent.

For the young players who stepped onto the court at Thrashers Padel, however, the significance was simpler: an opportunity to learn from one of the sport’s best coaches and experience the atmosphere surrounding South Africa’s biggest padel event to date…and, perhaps, begin imagining themselves on that stage one day.