Overview
Football legend Lucas Radebe visited Zululand to motivate students at Silethukukhanya Secondary School, encouraging them to work hard and stay dedicated to their studies. He shared his journey from aspiring to be a doctor to becoming a soccer star, emphasizing the importance of perseverance, belief in oneself, and good health, while also urging students to appreciate their resources. The visit was part of a project supported by Mpilonhle, Charlize Theron’s Africa Outreach Project, and other partners, which includes a new soccer field and health education initiatives for the school and surrounding community.
Article
On a visit to Zululand earlier this month, football veteran Lucas Radebe motivated thousands of pupils to be hard- working and dedicated in their studies toward their career choices, saying that the road to success wasn’t easy.
Thousands of youngsters at Silethukukhanya Secondary School, at Dukuduku Forest near St Lucia, listened intently as Radebe, who is also a Woolworths brand ambassador, spoke to them about his fame and success.
“I have been taking the applause from my fans, but now it is time to give back to the people who supported me,” said Radebe. “The road to success is a bumpy one with plenty of obstacles and sacrifices that must be made.”
“You have to work hard … and don’t forget where you come from. Money does not make the person, the person makes the money,” he said.
Fielding questions from the children, Radebe said that his career path was not what his parents had mapped out for him. He was sent away from home to complete his schooling as they wanted him to become a doctor, but he became bored and started playing soccer. It was here that he realised he had a natural talent for the game. “I knew that I had the talent, but out of respect for my parents I carried on with my studies. At some point I was, ‘spotted’ and had to promise my parents that I would give 100 percent effort to the game.”
“I have played at the highest level, for Kaizer Chiefs and Leeds United in the UK, and I did great. After my retirement I was invited back to the Leeds University, where I got a doctorate.” Offering motivation to the youngsters, Radebe said they should do what they loved the most, and they should believe in themselves and in God. “if you don’t believe in God, you can’t have belief in yourself.”
He said that good health was important and that youngsters should take care of their health and protect themselves against HIV/Aids.
Referring to their school facilities, he said: “I encourage you all to make use of these facilities, but you must take care of them and appreciate what you have been given. You are one of very few rural schools that has a soccer field.”
Other partners in the project are Mpilonhle, a non- governmental organisation using mobile units to bring health and specialised education services to rural schools and communities in the uMkhanyakude District, and which managed and co- ordinated the implementation of the project; East Coast Architects, which assisted with the design; as well as Charlize Theron’s Africa Outreach Project, which provided additional funding for the project.
The pitch will be used by Mpilonhle while the school is part of a new peer-based health intervention programme developed by Grassroot Soccer. The Grassroot curriculum, known as “Skillz”, creates simple but powerful connections between sports and life skills, particularly in relation to the stigma, prevention and treatment of HIV/Aids.
Silethukukhanya’s principal, Bheki Nomandla, said that it was important for children to have a space where they could focus on physical activity and team sports.
Lucas Radebe turns on the spotlights at the Silethukukhanya Secondary school’s new soccer field with assistance from school principal Bheki Nomandla.
