How the Premier Skills Programme and International Enterprise Programme propelled Nomonde's journey from sports enthusiast to educator and community coach.
Nomonde Mashabane, dubbed the ‘Sports Encyclopaedia’ by her siblings, demonstrated a deep passion and extensive knowledge in various sports from a young age. Excelling in disciplines like football, hockey, swimming, and basketball, she harboured aspirations of pursuing football professionally after high school.
Encouraged to study sports management, she embraced this path, propelled by a scholarship that enabled her to pursue her passion for sports while furthering her education.
During her internship at the South Africa Football Association, a friend suggested that she apply for the British Council Premier Skills Programme, seeing it as a pivotal opportunity for her career growth. The Premier Skills Programme, run by the British Council, aims to enhance coaching skills, support coach educators, and impart refereeing skills. Nomonde seized the opportunity and earned a level one status in the programme, which equipped her to run similar programmes within her community. She reflects, ‘The Premiere Skills Programme provided me with extensive knowledge in coaching and becoming a coach educator. It helped me gain a solid understanding of various aspects of the game, supporting other coaches and contributing to the game's overall development.’
Following her success in the Premiere Skills Programme, Nomonde was offered another significant opportunity; participation in the International Enterprise Programme (IEP). Looking back, she regards this programme as pivotal in shaping her career trajectory. The IEP Programme, a collaboration between the British Council and the Premier League, focuses on enabling football stakeholders to understand better how to manage football clubs and shares insights on running a football team successfully. Nomonde recalls, ‘Through the IEP Programme, I gained insights into various business models to manage a football club. It shared valuable knowledge that I believe many young people lack in their pursuit of a career in the game, as most aspire only to be on the pitch, overlooking the vast opportunities behind the scenes crucial for the game's advancement.’
Inspired by the knowledge gained from the IEP Programme, Nomonde transitioned into the education sector. She became a Life Orientation teacher at Knight Preparatory and College, where her responsibilities included overseeing Physical Education (PE) classes. Nomonde saw this role as a perfect blend of sports and education, allowing her to impart not only knowledge of the game but also share insights gained from various British Council Programmes for the benefit of the next generation.