Mziyanda Matiwane

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South Africa

A workshop in South Africa
South Africa

Since 2013, the British Council and the Premier League have been working to empower football coaches and primary teachers in South Africa and provide them with the knowledge, skills and confidence they need to use football and sport to tackle social issues and support thousands of disadvantaged young people.

PremierSkills
A journey of transformation through football

Mziyanda Matiwane's enthusiasm for football for community development began as a volunteer with the Grootbos Foundation. However, before his involvement with Premier Skills, Mziyanda felt uncertain about how to engage and inspire the young people he coached. A lack of quality education in community coaching in South Africa left him without the skills or confidence to lead effectively.

In 2014, Mziyanda joined the Premier Skills programme, a decision that had a profound impact on his career and life. The programme equipped him with the knowledge, skills, and methods needed to engage young people in meaningful ways. More than just teaching technical skills, Premier Skills emphasized the importance of keeping participants excited, motivated, and focused on the joy of the game—not just winning.

Mziyanda Matiwane

This training marked the start of a remarkable journey. After completing his initial training and later advancing through the coach educators' programme, Mziyanda returned to the Grootbos Foundation. His newfound confidence, passion, and pride in being a community coach were instrumental in his success and led him to eventually being appointed as the Head Football Coach.


Premier Skills gave me confidence and motivation to grow my knowledge and skills. I would not be where I am now without the programme. 


Mziyanda Matiwane

His commitment to continuous learning led him to participate in the International Enterprise Programme (IEP) and the Premier Skills Physical Education programme, both run as part of the British Council and Premier League Partnership. 
 

Mziyanda Matiwane

In January 2025, Mziyanda was recognised as a Premier League Community Captain for his decade-long participation in Premier Skills and commitment to community development. Premier League Community Captains form part of More than a game, which celebrates individuals in Premier League-funded programmes for their commitment to football and society. The Community Captain award recognises those who make significant contributions to the game and their communities.

Today, Mziyanda works with over 500 children weekly, leading community football sessions and supporting physical education (PE) delivery in schools. He develops other coaches and collaborates with teachers in the local schools, helping them build their capacity to deliver effective PE sessions. 
 

Mziyanda’s efforts have contributed to the positive coexistence of three communities in Gansbaai. The football sessions have become a platform and a bridge to foster connection and understanding between young people.


Without programmes like Premier Skills, Mziyanda believes the Gansbaai community would be worse off. 

The sport facilities and the opportunities we can offer to young people have made a huge difference.

Mziyanda Matiwane