Infusing business skills through sport

Sport teaches children skills that can set them up for life. These skills go beyond the physical abilities required and manifest themselves in social, emotional and psychological benefits.

"Sport plays a major role in building self-esteem and confidence in children. It can motivate them to excel in other directions too, and spending time with peers and coaches builds their social skills, which ultimately benefits them in business, as you have to learn to get along with a variety of people in order to be a valuable member of the team," says Pommie Lutchman, CEO at Ocular Technologies.

To help youth acquire skills that will benefit them in all spheres of business, led the South African customer experience solutions provider to become involved with the Sporting Club of Benoni Independiente (SCB Independiente). It has since 2014 been financially supporting this six-year old sport club located in the heart of Benoni.

The self-funded club is situated in Actonville, a Benoni suburb that was established in the 1950s as a result of the Group Areas Act, and boasts a rich history of politics, community activity and sport, in particular soccer. The aim of SCB Independiente is to once again bring sport to the fore in Actonville.

The club's focus and vision thus embraces playing sport fairly, developing players to professional levels, giving them every opportunity to meet their personal and sporting goals and wanting players to achieve through exposure to higher levels of coaching.

"Sporting activities also help our children stay off the streets, away from nefarious activities and, importantly, off drugs," continues Lutchman. "Our ongoing involvement with SCB Independiente is built on the knowledge that if today's youngsters want to succeed in the working place they need to adequately possess skills including the ability to communicate, self-discipline, how to deal with conflict or authority, and how to handle both success and failure. This, they can be taught through sport. Also knowing that by putting in maximum effort reaps rewards is a priceless lesson to learn - combine this with individuals who are confident in their ability to be creative, it translates into innovation that is prized in all facets of life."

The number of players and coaches at the club has grown increasingly over the years, as has its success, such as player Tebogo Malatsi signing a professional contract with Witbank Aces, year-on-year league performance improvement, plus players being taken through training courses with Shaun Bartlett and coaches through Dutch Football.

"Our goal is to see these youngsters succeed in life - both on a professional and personal level. All kids have potential, what is important is growing this potential in order to cultivate their humanity," adds Lutchman.