On March 2, 2024, over 50 children aged 4 to 12 had a joyful sports day at the University of Johannesburg (UJ) AW Muller Stadium during the second UJ Football Club and SABC Sport coaching clinic edition.
UJ football coaches and international legends, including Aaron Mokoena and Mark Williams, teamed up to provide coaching sessions. The diverse kids’ teams learned fundamental football skills, such as kicking, passing, controlling, dribbling, spatial awareness, and scoring goals. This collaborative effort between the national broadcaster and UJ Sport originated on Human Rights Day in 2023, promoting football and sports engagement among youth, encompassing all genders.
Kids’ enthusiasm and inspirations
In this edition, the children were outfitted in a white and orange kit adorned with UJ Sport and SABC Sport logos. The stadium saw a gathering of family members, SABC media personnel, and players from various UJ Sport Clubs (football, rugby, and others) rallying to support both the cause and the young participants. Notable sponsors, including McDonald’s, Orange Grove, Diadora, and Monate Water, generously provided nourishment to all attendees and supplied coaches with clothing apparel.
In the previous year, the UJ Sport-SABC Sport collaboration brought in former players like Daine Klate, Moeneeb Josephs, and Nthabeleng Modiko, among others, who actively engaged with the children. This time around, the day commenced with a morning warm-up session, followed by group and individual sessions facilitated by former PSL and national team football stars.
One of the younger players from Johannesburg, Isa (6), said he was excited to be part of the activities because it was all about having fun, training, and playing football with other kids. “I learned about stopping and controlling the ball. It’s nice today because you get to play matches and meet new people who love football,” he said.
A young Mowana (5) from Johannesburg, who came to the event with her mother, uncle, two brothers and grandmother to support her, said she wants to be a footballer when she is older. “Today, I learned how to play soccer, to kick the ball and running to create space for my teammates.” she said.
Mowana and the kids enjoyed having the UJ Ladies Football team present at the event. The UJ Women’s Football team were headed to their opening Hollywoodbets Super League fixture, but started their day at the coaching initiative.
While Mowana loves football, she is also a basketball fan. She loves football because, she says, it is a nice sport and many people in the world love football. Both Mowana and Isa love Christiano Ronaldo because, they say, he is skilful and scores many goals.
Growth and future plans for the coaching clinic
Sundesh Mahes, Head of Marketing at SABC Sport and Coordinator for UJ Football Junior Teams, expressed enthusiasm about the coaching clinic, highlighting the unique opportunity for children to interact with legendary former Bafana footballers and acquire valuable football knowledge. Emphasising the importance of ensuring that the children enjoy the process, Mahes noted South Africa’s deep-rooted passion for sports and the need to nurture this enthusiasm from the grassroots level.
“We saw 21 million people watching the recent AFCON tournament on SABC channels; that tells you that people are hungry for sports content and that they need access to sport. The growth potential is amazing, there is growth in the number of kids and people this year from our first edition of this coaching clinic in 2023. We are grateful to UJ Sport for the partnership and the provision of the immaculate facilities. We want to grow this partnership to even higher heights.”
Commenting on the success and expansion of the coaching clinic, Ms. Nompilo Zondi, Senior Manager of UJ Sport Clubs, expressed her satisfaction, stating, “I am pleased to be here today. It is crucial for our university to actively participate in community development programs, contributing to positive change within communities. I am also delighted that SABC Sport is investing in football development at the grassroots level, as this is where the foundation for a lasting love of sports must be laid. Such events underscore the significance of blending education and sports to shape better citizens. I believe that these children may emerge as future football stars, representing South Africa admirably.”
Former Bafana Bafana captain’s involvement
Former Bafana Bafana captain and international defender, Aaron Mokoena (the current SA Under-15 Coach and Under-17 Assistant Coach), said that it is crucial for him to be part of the SABC Sport – UJ Sport initiative, because he values development at grassroots level. “It is very important for development football coaches to have coaching badges. The same way that people cannot be lawyers, doctors, or lecturers without qualifications, coaches must have qualifications, especially when they work with kids, you have to know what you’re teaching.”
Mokoena added that he’s involved to share his experiences and help shape the future of South African football. “The kids will grow up to become professionals; some will be doctors, teachers or engineers, but for us here we have to be aware that we are developing human beings. It’s not about kicking a football only, but this is to give them the opportunity to choose what they want to be especially at this tender age. So far, the kids are having fun and we are also having fun in the process.
SABC Sport is a free-to-air sports television channel run by the public broadcaster. It is in the top 10 of most watched channels on Openview.
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