Precious_Testimony%5B1%5D.docx

Mr Precious Mthembo Mphogo

Testimony

Brief Life Background

Rose in a deep previously disadvantaged community where there is a lack of various developments for youth such as, conducive sporting fields and various athletics. For my place, my community, my home to carry along the name: Rural Area made the matter worse since there was a lack of coaching for us to perfects and sharpens our talents.

It happened that I have to go to Gauteng Province for the first time in my life after I passed my matric to go to broaden my studies. I had to visit to the locations such as Soweto, Alexandra & Tembisa to learn and understand their day to day life styles more especially the youth and sports. Then I started to realise that people in this side of life have some facilities and experts who are coaching them in whatever sporting activity they involve in.

Me been a Kareteka and Ballroom Latin American dancer began to develop an interest in other activities. I have join Boxing, Cycling, Canoeing and a bit of cricket (I only saw them on TV). As we go on with the activities I have learn that being a professional athlete goes together with discipline. Having coaches in all activities made me to start to notice and understand the different between people from rural and urban areas.

Me and my team

I have noticed that we have an exceptional talent within our area especially soccer talents. By going to local soccer matches every weekend watching them playing poor soccer I quickly picked that there is a lack of coaching skills within our area. The interest which I had been fully supported by my family especially my uncle. We bought soccer balls started with the local boys as young as nine years to eighteen years old. It took us about a year or two develop a team which is different to local teams. Then we sat down and came with the idea of growing our team to an academy through the likes and interests of neighbouring villagers in joining our team. We came with the name Mokororwana Sports Academy.

How did my team change my life? I was going through a lot before we start with this initiative. Spending a lot of times with the boys, researching about soccer trainings help me in overcome a lot of pressure such as losing a job and went through some closed unforeseen life challenges. I never ever played soccer in my childhood but now I can be able to coach and train the professional team i.e. through the books and researches about soccer. I was engaging in reading, learning and researching about netball then the FTC Namibia offer aroused.

The boys gave me a respect and a family now they are like my brothers, children, cousins, etc. I have managed to stop my uncontrollable drinking of alcohol and smoking.

Me and Youth Zones. Doc and Schalk bumped in to our training session one day. We managed to catch them through what we were doing for our black brothers. They show us some of the training techniques we never knew. When they first come to my life as a person I felt blessed to be acknowledging for what I am doing. They contributed some training equipment which eased the burden we have as the team.

I am and was motivated by the involvement of YZ in my life, my team and my community. YZ make me feel like I must do more for my community they gave me courage. The leadership skills and life skills they gave to me are important to my life.

With YZ I had foreseen a brighter future for my boys at home.

Precious and FTC (FeverTree Consulting)

It was not easy for me to leave my boys at home and fly to Namibia, because the bond that we had with the boys was totally not separable. Even my family knows that when is the boys time; is the boys time.  

Sometimes as a man you have to leave what you love behind and go to make a leaving.  Joining FTC was a blessing I was waiting for since I have refused few offers in the mines. I enjoy whatever I am doing for FTC. For me FTC is a learning curve. Now I am considering myself an experienced business and projects analyst.

I have been called sir, first time flying, staying in five star and in the sea hotel, traveling Namibia more than the Namibians

FTC helped me a lot with Income which keeps my life in a track. I have managed to spend about R10 000.00 for my team in training equipment.  

I wish to stay with FTC for long.

Precious and Glencore

It was by the year 2013 when Youth Zones took about 15 of us (3 from Rustenburg & 3 from Steelpoort ) to  highest mountains of Drakensburg in Lesotho for leadership camp. That where I feld a sense of change and belonging in Glencore as an organization. Doc told me that Youth Zones Steelpoort side is the beneficiary of Glencore Steelpoort.

Through YZ I have realised the important role play by Glencore to our day to day life and community as whole.  That is through life skills, Sports, Art, Culture, Entrepreneurship and IT. Nonetheless employments and business opportunities.

I can stand tall and say thank you, Youth Zones, thank you FTC, thank you Glencore and most of all thank you Lord the Creator.

Conclusion     

WATER THE ROOTS TO ENJOY THE FRUITS. Let’s work together to make Mzanzi a better stay for our kids. Let us encourage sports to avoid crime and substance abuses.

Let me steal from Martin Luther King: even if I knew that the world will go in to pieces tomorrow I will still plant my apple tree .

My Motto : I am, You are, We are