“MY TALENT was discovered when I was at school. That is why I support sporting activities with all my heart.”
This is what former Bafana Bafana midfielder Teko “The General” Modise told pupils at Parklands High School in Alberton, Ekurhuleni, yesterday.
The Cape Town City player visited the school to help with the launch of its sports day.
This came after the school could not offer sports for the past six years due to lack of equipment.
The plan to bring sports back to the school came from the new Representative Council for Learners.
The council went looking for a sponsor who could help them with sports equipment.
The council, led by Malatji Mahlakgane, managed to get volleyball equipment, a basketball and three soccer balls from Decathlon Sports Megastore in Alberton.
Kenneth Mnene, the store’s event co-ordinator, said they decided to help because sports would help pupils stay away from drugs.
Modise said: “Pupils get bored at school if there are no activities. I am here to tell them they can actually balance both school and sport,” he said.
He said after the release of his book, The Curse of Teko Modise, he had to learn to balance soccer and giving motivational talks.
“It is hard but it can be done,” he said.
Mahlakgane said Teko was the right person to talk to pupils.
“He has released a book and is also doing well in his soccer career.
“That is what we want to do at this school. We want to be the best at sports while we maintain a good pass rate,” he said.
