Johan Cruyff was known for his beautiful play and now the football foundation set up in his name, is hoping to make the game greener everywhere by putting sustainability onto the pitch.
The foundation, which was established in 1997 and now operates in 22 countries, provides opportunities for children to engage in sports in the legacy of the Dutch footballer.
Across the organisation, the foundation has introduced solar-powered lighting and advanced water management systems to ensure that the energy usage is renewable and the facilities avoid unnecessary water waste.
This includes the project in Orange Farm, near Johannesburg where rainwater is collected beneath the pitch and filtered to provide clean drinking water.
The ‘Catch-Store-Reuse’ system captures rainwater, stores it in its subbase and purifies it in a GreenSource container next to the pitch.
The organisation uses artificial pitches at almost 95% of Cruyff Courts for their quality and durability.
The environmental impact of plastic turf has come into question in recent years. However a study by German scientists in 2025 found that the surface does not pose a threat to groundwater through chemical leeching.
The foundation continues to expand in countries such as the Netherlands, Spain, Malaysia and China. The UK in particular has had rapid progress, growing from 30 to 50 pitches in the last year.
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