Londiwe Hlatstwayo, a sports enthusiast from Kagiso, has risen to the challenge life has placed before her and stepped into a male-dominated sporting code to become a vibrant coach, producing thriving school soccer teams in the Tsogo Sun Soccer Programme in the Kagiso community.
She is an inspirational role model, embracing the challenges shefaces, starting with the all-too-common perception that women should not be coaching all-boys teams.
Her tenacity and commitment to creating an environment that fosters community support and respect for the students, the game and the coaches, keep Londiwe at the top of her game.
Vusi Dlamini, Group HR Director of Tsogo Sun, says, “The Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy provides a comprehensive model to achieve the holistic development of the child; which includes keeping youngsters active, the development of talent, and life skills. Alongside the Department of Basic Education, the Department of Sport and Recreation, the relevant sporting federations and the community, we understand that sport is a tool for transformation that can enhance a learner’s life and encourage a positive mind-set with the potential to produce a well-rounded individual.”
To ensure the sustainability of the Soccer Academy, one of its key components includes the sourcing of coaches from the relevant schools. The coaches are given the opportunity to become accredited coaches through the programme’s association with the South African Football Association (SAFA) and various other bodies such as KVNB Dutch Football Association international coaching workshops.
Londiwe became a soccer coach in the Tsogo Sun Soccer Programme at Kagiso’s Khaselihle Primary School by accident. She had always played sport as a child and had the passion to develop youth through team sports. She was the netball co-ordinator at her previous school and, with this experience and commitment, Londiwe was ready to step into a netball coaching position at Khaselihle Primary. But there were no netball coaching posts available. Undeterred, she became an athletics coach. When the athletics season drew to an end Londiwe decided to take on the daunting task of becoming a soccer coach in the Tsogo Sun Sports Academy.
As someone who had never played soccer before, but loved the game, Londiwe had to acquire knowledge of the sport to become the best qualified soccer coach she could. She has already completed the SAFA Introductory level course and is already planning to do the SAFA Level 1 course. Londiwe then became the proud coach of the U12 and U14 soccer teams at Khaselihle Primary in the Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy school league. The U14 team has won a number of recent tournaments, and with continuous training, dedication, and growing strategic understanding by the U12 soccer team, Londiwe hopes to continue her teams winning streak.
Londiwe says, “I enjoy soccer more than netball now. Initially gaining the support and trust of the community and the parents was a challenge, but through perseverance and building teams with the spirit to win, I now have the community’s support as a coach. This is encouraging because I believe sport has the power to help bring a community together.”
Tsogo Sun and Londiwe share the vision of bringing the spirit and development inherent in sport to the children and positively impact their lives. By being part of a sport, students are exposed to a range of skills, and Londiwe still expects the students to do well in their schoolwork before they excel at sports. The students need to understand that there is more to life than just sport or just academics – and a combination of both is essential to their holistic development.
“Londiwe is an exceptional coach and brings a welcome woman’s touch and a new perspective to the game as well as to the Tsogo Sun Sports Academy. This allows for growth within the programme and a new understanding of how sport can be a catalyst for learner development. As she focuses on communication, talent and skills development from a different paradigm, it is great to see the development of the individual progressing into thriving teams that rival the male-dominated coaching arena,” says Shanda Paine, Group CSI Manager, Tsogo Sun.
“The Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy will continue to collaborate with the schools, communities, sporting associations and government departments to create the best possible development programme that will make a lasting difference,” Paine notes.
Tsogo Sun Soccer Academy female coach Londiwe Hlatstwayo and Sonny Seathekge from Khaselihle Primary School, back row – Lucas Radebe and Tsogo Sun volunteer