The Premier Skills Physical Education teacher training programme, a collaboration between the Premier League, British Council, and MultiChoice’s SuperSport Let’s Play initiative, has continued its mission of empowering educators and transforming communities through sport. The latest training session, held at Motswela Secondary School in Kroonstad from 10 to 14 February 2025, saw local teachers equipped with essential skills to enhance physical education in their schools.
Since its launch in October 2023, the Premier Skills programme has trained over 700 teachers and coaches across 25 districts and five Let’s Play Centres of Sporting Excellence (LPCOSE). These centres, backed by SuperSport’s Let’s Play initiative, provide state-of-the-art multipurpose sports fields, encouraging structured physical education in schools and communities.
The programme has already made a difference in seven provinces: Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, by offering young athletes the opportunity to develop their sporting skills while promoting a culture of active living.
Beyond training
The impact of the Premier Skills programme extends far beyond teacher training. Educators who have completed the course have gone on to organise large-scale community sports events, including the Let’s Play Fun Run and the Modified Hockey Heritage Day Festival, which collectively attracted over 6,000 participants. These events highlight the significance of physical activity in education and help bridge the gap between sports and youth development.
At the Motswela Secondary School training session, teachers gained first-hand experience in structuring engaging physical education sessions. “The past few days have been amazing. I never considered myself sporty, but this training has changed my perspective,” said Lebohang Khaoue, one of the participants.
The training week concluded with a vibrant festival where teachers showcased their newly acquired skills in real-time, engaging with over 100 learners in various sporting activities. “This festival is about putting knowledge into practice. The teachers are now confident in leading physical education sessions that make a real difference in learners’ lives,” said Nowanda Mashabane, a Premier Skills coach educator.
The programmes goals are to be more than just a workshop, but a catalyst for long-term change. By equipping educators with structured training methodologies, it ensures that physical education remains a cornerstone of youth development, fostering teamwork, discipline, and a lifelong passion for sport.
“We are very grateful for this opportunity. The training has given us practical skills that we can implement across multiple sports, including netball, basketball, and volleyball,” said another participant.
Since 2013, the British Council and Premier League have trained more than 3,500 educators and coaches across six provinces, benefiting over 117,000 children. Together with MultiChoice’s SuperSport Let’s Play, these initiatives are setting the foundation for a healthier, more active generation.
As Motswela Secondary School joins the growing network of institutions empowered by Premier Skills, the ripple effect of this initiative will be felt for years to come – on the sports field, in the classroom, and throughout the community.
To find out more, visit www.multichoice.com.
