Orlando Pirates and Premier Soccer league chairman Dr. Irvin Khoza has insisted that people like Pitso Mosimane must be celebrated in South African football.
Mosimane, 59, was the special guest when Nedbank, in partnership with Pitso Mosimane Soccer Schools and The Sports Trust, inaugurated the Pitso Mosimane Multipurpose Sports Court at Lofentse Girls High School in Orlando East earlier this week.
The official handover was conducted on behalf of the Nedbank Cup 2022/2023 season winners, Orlando Pirates FC, with chairman Dr. Khoza being one of the speakers to laurel the ‘son of the soil’.
“His success today is because of his commitment and work ethic,” Khoza said during the event.
“It’s important to put him [Mosimane] on the pedestal to motivate kids of today who think things are easy.
“Kids of today are on Facebook and Instagram and there’s no problem but there is more effort that’s required, more than Instagram and Facebook, especially now that we are competing globally.
“Pitso had no boundaries, he never undermined himself. In fact, you were there at the awards when I said to you ‘Watch this boy, he’s going to surprise Africa’ long before it happened.
“So that’s why today it’s important for me to repeat this thing in front of children that you don’t get this thing by mistake but you work very hard.
“So, work ethic is very important. That is why people like [Nelson] Mandela, Desmond Tutu, they gave themselves for the good of people. So, what is required of us is to die a little for those that are disadvantaged.”
This groundbreaking project was made possible thanks to funding from Nedbank and The Sports Trust’s Soccer Development Programme. This partnership embodies a joint commitment to sport development, talent identification and community empowerment in South Africa.
Nedbank’s unwavering support has been a catalyst for transformative change. Since 2012 Nedbank, supported by The Sports Trust, has erected 10 multipurpose sport courts worth R2 million each, showcasing a continuous investment in the development of South African communities through a range of sport. With a 20-year lifespan to accommodate five sporting codes, this state-of-the-art facility multipurpose will nurture various sport disciplines and provide a safe space for the community.
With over 1 200 learners, Lofentse Girls High School is the first all-girls school to receive the Pitso Mosimane Multipurpose Sports Court. The school offers various sport disciplines, coupled with a progressive and empowering academic programme. It is widely recognised as the best educational institution in Orlando and is an ideal choice for parents looking to give their children a good education in a convenient location with excellent facilities.
