Mpumalanga Academy of Sport has over many years
dedicated itself in the growth and development of sport
and most importantly the development of world-class
champions in the province of Mpumalanga. The logical
extension of this programme is to ensure its
sustainability and effectiveness. To this end the
Academy has identified a need to restructure sport in
Mpumalanga in order to:
-
Sharpen the pinnacle of Sport
-
Broaden the base of sport, and
-
Harness sport expertise through its
effective and efficient Education & Training
Programme that is NQF aligned as well as SAQA
compliant.
This will be achieved through the
introduction of the effective participation and total
involvement of all stakeholders, most importantly our
municipalities, Sports Councils, Provincial Sports
Federations, government not forgetting the private
sector through Sports Sponsorship.
A properly well structured plan for
talent identification, capacity building and the
nurturing of talent through skills development remains a
cornerstone of our transformation programme leading to
representativity by properly equipped administrators,
technical officials and athletes at regional and
provincial level.
The Academy has been recently AWARDED
full accreditation status by THETA (one of the SETAs
established by government) as a service provider
delivering skills programmes on sport and recreation.
Mpumalanga Academy of Sport is proud to announce that it
has set the pace for all Sporting bodies in the province
to deliver NQF aligned training to ensure quality when
training officials in all the fields of sport and
recreation.
THETA Accreditation Nr.
613/P/000102/2007
The learner-ship programme hosted by the
Academy is one of the most successful training
programmes that the province has ever experienced. In
2006/7; 21 learners were trained by the Academy (on
Sport & Recreation Fitness Leader NQF Level 4) and 100%
competency rate was achieved.
In 2007/8 learner-ship, 60 learners were
recruited and are currently working tirelessly to
achieve excellent results and emulate the class of
2007. The learner-ship in question will be concluded at
the end of June 2008 and results will be announced
accordingly.
In its efforts to develop High
Performance Sport, Mpumalanga Academy of Sport is
currently partnering with International organizations to
provide opportunities to sports people in Mpumalanga.
These partnerships are focusing at developing athletes’
skills for high performance sport through competitions
as well as training sports officials. Currently the
Academy has partnerships with the following
organizations:
Over and above the aforementioned
partnerships, the Academy is an active member of the
International Association of High Performance Sports and
Training Centres (IAHPSTC) based in Spain. Through
its participation in the forums hosted by this
association; the Academy beneficiaries will access
world-class interventions in as far High Performance
Sport is concerned.
The German project called YESS
(Youth Empowerment Scheme through Sport) which
is aimed at capacitating teachers and the youth
in-school and out of school on football is presently
underway and supported by SAFA national office
through the services of the Director of Coaching: Mr.
Konty Kubheka. The project started in 2007 and will
proceed until 2011 with the introduction of athletics
and swimming as codes to also benefit from the German
expertise in an effort to accelerate the rate of sports
development in the province through the Academy.
In ensuring that Mpumalanga’s mission of
delivering the 2010 promise; which is the successful
2010 Soccer World Cup, Mpumalanga Academy is already
delivering youth programmes that will be training youth
on football as well as life skills using a project
sponsored by a German Company called GTZ.
The programme is called Youth
Development through Football (YDF). Municipalities,
SAFA: Mpumalanga and Local Football Associations
including Mpumalanga 2010 Office are proud partners of
the Academy for the efficient delivery of this German
adopted programme.
CONCLUSION
In conclusion; Mpumalanga Academy of
Sport in partnership with TuksSport (High Performance
Centre in Pretoria) is proud to give excellent and
world-class services to athletes, coaches,
administrators as well as officials using the most
recent ethical technology to enhance their talents.
Here below are some of the services available at the
Academy:
•
Drug Free Workshops
•
Medical Screening
•
Muscular skeletal screening
•
Flexibility, Speed, agility, power,
muscular strength
•
Tests are done both in the field and the
lab
•
Number and duration of training camps
•
Programme
•
- Strength and conditioning
•
- Technical and techniques
•
Sports Psychology
•
Life Skills
•
Build- ups before the Games
•
Athletes Support and other Nutritional
interventions
•
Team Management training of Coaches and
Team Managers
•
Appointment of Sports Science and Medical
Team
This clearly indicates that the Academy
is committed to uplift the standard of sport and
completely change the province for the better.
B H SKHOSANA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
