Club Focus- Mmabatho Football Club

“A Mountain is not higher than your confidence, because it will be under your feet, if you reach the top.” – Wordsictionary on Twitter

Mmabatho can be simply translated as “mother of the nation”, hence the main reason when the club was formed spoke to the provision of opportunity to football players who might have been been overlooked or were not yet ready to play for the local university team, North West University Vaal Campus FC. The essence of motherhood was well captured as no matter how players were not ready for varsity football,like a mother often acts, Mmabatho FC was ready to accept this potential & help nurture them into future football stars.

Read on as the club’s coach & coordinator, Tumelo Thebe gives us insight about Vaal’s motherhood spirited club…

Vaal Diski 9~Nine: Good day Coach, could you give us insight on the club’s partners?

Coach Tumelo Thebe: We have various partners, & Coach Lefa from the SAFA Transnet School of Excellence is my partner he helps me with my needs to run the team.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine: What have been some of the challenges you have faced so far in its existence ?

Coach Tumelo Thebe: My challenges are mostly what i have expected. Things like struggling with travelling to games, referee fees, the tactical side of things and competitions. It is just not easy coaching students because I preach school first and then soccer after, so sometimes I struggle to have players for training and games.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine: What have been the club’s highlights & lowlights?

Coach Tumelo Thebe: Lowlights was loosing in the play-offs to qualify for the SAFA Sedibeng SAB League in 2016. Highlights would have to be gaining promotion to the SAFA Sedibeng league in 2017 and secondly having one of our players Kavendree Makhene representing the USSA U-21 team in the SAB Under-21 squad that lost in the final in the 2017 edition.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine: What are the club’s short, medium & long term goals?

Coach Tumelo Thebe: Short term – get stability and adapt as soon as possible in the SAFA Sedibeng SAB League, medium term- have players in the university team in the club championships next year like we did last year( 5 players were in the team this year) and not only survive relegation but also get at least a top 5 finish on the log. Long term- have players who graduated in varsity having their degrees, honors and other degrees and playing in the NFD and PSL with qualifications.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine: With a great tribute in your logo of a female & the clubs beliefs centred around the importance of woman. Does the club have a goal to also have a women’s team that would compete in the Sasol League?

Coach Tumelo Thebe: I am currently employed as the head coach of NWU Vaal Ladies Football that should tell you a lot about my passion in women football &:most certainly as soon as the team has reached its stable state we will have a women’s team and involve more women in the team.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine: As a former player how easy/difficult has it been to transition from playing to leading in terms of coaching?

Coach Tumelo Thebe: It hasn’t been easy at all because emotions are different now, as a player I felt like I had more control over everything that happens on the field but now as a coach you have to influence the game from the touchline and it demands a lot of character and great leadership qualities.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine: As a Sport Science graduate would you say you are at an advantage than a typical coach & what are some of the things you learnt that you apply on a daily basis ?

Coach Tumelo Thebe: Most definitely, my qualification and experience as a player gives me an upper hand, I understand the importance of training and rest of players as well as their physical conditioning, which I know that most coaches don’t apply. Something that we have to understand as coaches we need to follow processes in order to achieve our goals and have a clear reference of how we achieved our goals. It all starts with the preparation towards a game and the way we compete till the end of the season.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine: Profound indeed, what are your coaching ambitions?

Coach Tumelo Thebe: I would love to have my team go all the way to National First Division one day and then as a coach I would love to head a proper academy structure but my passion is being a periodization expert/performance analyst.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine: Do you have any regrets from your playing days & what do miss from playing the game?

Coach Tumelo Thebe: Regrets- not going as far as playing professional but as for playing i don’t miss much because I still get to play now and then.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine wishes both Coach Tumelo Thebe & Mmabatho FC all the best in their endeavours. May they continue to provide the platform for our future Bafana Bafana players to blossom!!!

Player Focus- Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane

“All great achievements have one thing in common – people with a passion to succeed.” – Pat Cash

Player Fact File

Mabitso: Khauhelo Steve

Sefane: Ramotsoenyane.

Letsatsi la matswalo: 20/07/1995

Attacking midfielder,left wing & right wing & as a second striker (modern football they say is a number 10 )

Sehlopha: On assessment at Name Lodi Sundowns FC as part of the Nedbank Ke Yona team search 2017.

Sebaka: Sebokeng, Zone7A

Dihlopha tsa kgale tsa hae: Happiness Boys FC, VUT FC , Vaal Milano FC, Sebokeng Ajax FC(all amateur teams ),Alexandra United FC & Orange Vaal Professional FC (ABC Motsepe League) Orlando Pirates FC development Under-19, Bidvest Wits FC reserves & Nedbank Ke Yona team 2017.

In the pursuit of our aspirations,there is no doubt that attitude plays an integral role. Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane’s attitude towards life is a great inspiration to all young people in the Vaal Triangle & South Africa. His journey has been characterised by sheer perseverance,self-belief & the will to learn. Read on as he shares a chapter of his life’s story that is inspirationally unfolding into one of the Vaal’s most exciting tales of 2017.

Vaal Diski 9-Nine(VD9N): What sparked your interest about football & do you recall at what age?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: Growing up my friends & I played football in the streets,I think its a norm in the township. Watching Vaal-born Steve Lekoelea playing for Orlando Pirates FC also influenced me a lot, later on being exposed to Ronaldinho’s content was also crucial, whilst the compliments of my community members was a great driving force because I would outshine my mates. At age 7 doing grade 1, I was playing football non-stop both at home & school.

VD9N: Football as a profession, at which stage did you consider it?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: The year 2011, whilst playing in numerous football tournaments, from Metropolitan, Future Champs & Engen Championships. I got the opportunity to play against the academy sides of clubs like PSV Eindhoven from the Netherlands, Athletico Miniero from Brazil & other continental clubs. Coached by Coach Tebello Benza at, I really performed well at those tournaments. People & my previous coaches kept on complimenting me & spoke highly of my potential. I just told myself to keep working hard, mind you my mom was not keen on my football aspirations.

VD9N: What are the key lessons you learnt during your amateur days?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: They key ones were to learn to take instructions & listen to the coaches. One had to be open-minded to learn. As youngsters there will be distractions but from early on I learnt not to be easily swayed by my friends. An example is when I started playing there were many of us, but along the way because of distractions & minimum self-belief many stopped pursuing the football dream. I just told myself to keep working hard & to always persevere.

VD9N: At which amateur club/s did you enjoy yourself the most?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: It was at Happiness Boys FC, it is my childhood club where I spent many years from the age of 7 to 14 years-old. My time at Vaal University of Technology (VUT) was also quite enjoyable.

VD9N: How would you describe your time playing in the ABC Motsepe League for both Alexandra United FC & Orange Vaal Professionals FC?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: I enjoyed myself at Alexandra United FC, because just after joining the side I played instantly like 11 games consecutively but my progress was halted by an ankle injury. I enjoyed Alexandra United FC as I was also playing with my homeboys Bongane Twala & Neo Segalo. The second round of the league campaign the team struggled due to releasing many players & I left. I then decided to give Orange Vaal Professionals FC a chance as they had been very interested. Honestly I did not enjoy my stint with them due to football politics, I feel my talent was not appreciated & really the senior players did not guide us but rather blamed & were harsh.

VD9N: How did your time at OVPFC strengthen you?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: The three months spent at OVPFC, though negative but I derived many positives, mentally I became more stronger.

VD9N: Your player fact file indicates Orlando Pirates FC Under-19s & BidVest Wits FC Reserves amongst your former teams, how did those moves occur?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: On completion of my matric, I had applied to almost 6 universities but I was not successful in my quest via bursaries. I then sat down my mother & explained my intentions to try football for that year. Luckily I heard Orlando Pirates FC Academy was to reopen their academy programme, they hosted trials in Soweto at the UJ Campus for their Under-19 team which I participated in & made the team. I spent 7 months which were very good at Pirates under-19’s, as it is in football when a team is not in need of your services anymore,I was released. I did not give up, in August I headed to Braamfontein, my destination was Sturrock Park where the BidVest Wits FC reserves trained. I approached their Coach Ashley Makhanya, told him about myself & asked to trial. Coach Ashley was surprised but impressed with my bravery & thus after two days he asked for my documents so as to register me for their team.

VD9N: What led to your exit from the Wits reserves?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: After two years, it was not promising for me to be promoted to the first team, plus my duration was coming to an end as I approaching my 21 birthday. I had to go look for greener pastures.

VD9N: What led to your decision to enter the Nedbank Cup Ke Yona team search 2017?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: I had watched how it had changed many football players lives, the exposure it presented them, the likes of Sydney Masana who went on to play for Free State Stars FC & Aubrey Modiba who currently plays for Supersport United FC. On March the 1st as soon as the application platform opened I applied & this time I was sitting with my mother who supported me. I knew entering this competition would be a life changing moment.

VD9N: How did you feel when you made the final 18 men Nedbank Cup Ke Yona team search 2017?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: Self-belief, my mother & community. When people believe in you, it drives you & you do not want to disappoint them. God has totally made everything possible too.

VD9N: What did you enjoy the most about the experience?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: Everything, from the football, food, sport science, heading to schools to go motivate youngsters & the great team building exercises we experienced. Meeting the the great coaches & a personality like Boity Thulo. It was valuable experience all thanks to Nedbank.

VD9N: How has your experience been like having been selected to be assessed by the African champions, Mamelodi Sundowns FC?

Khauhelo Ramotsoenyane: It has been a dream come true, I believe to be the best one must compete to with the best so Sundowns has been great. It has been over a month now,I believe I have done my best & its up to the coaches. The players & coaches have been very welcoming. Its been very professional & I leave all in Gods hands.

Vaal Diski 9-Nine salutes Khauhelo on his bravery, courage & undying attitude. With such drive complemented by discipline there is no doubt this is only the beginning of greater things to come. Salute Khauhelo, the Vaal is proud of you!

Watinta Bafazi, Watinta Imbokodo…



Life is like riding a bicycle; you don’t fall off unless you stop pedaling.” – Claude Pepper

Names: Refilwe Emily

Surname: Motaung

DOB: 06 January 1997

Place of birth: Handregvandabijle, Vaal Triangle
Position: Referee in the ABC Motsepe League

Year began officiating: 2011

Nickname: Fifi

History is a great resource for the archiving of past moments, events & feats. It is also a great source of inspiration for individuals to draw from, whilst a challenge to surpass that which has been written. Refilwe Motaung has not only challenged history, but is well on her way to rewriting it. Read on as she shares her journey with us…

Refilwe in action, as she leads out teams to play

Vaal Diski 9-Nine: When did your football journey begin & what was the driving force?

Refilwe Motaung: I grew up playing street soccer with my home boys so I was introduced to this awesomest coach called Zacharia Nale of the Nale Academy, he really developed me, to the point that even today I’m still fit because of him, mentally, emotionally and physically.

VD9N: When did you then make the transition from playing to officiating?

Refilwe Motaung: I wasn’t getting enough game time because I was a girl in a boys team, so during school holidays in 2012 I met Mr Leboko who was  very passionate about me, he took me to some refeering classes, workshops and some fitness tests.

VD9N: Do you recall the first match you officiated & how did it go?

Refilwe Motaung: (Smiles) It was in a VUT Police tournament, yoh it wasn’t easy but with Mr Leboko & some other referees support, I managed to be strong and deal with the pressure.

VD9N: What have been your high & low moments as a referee?

Refilwe Motaung: Yoh, my heart breaks. I have a lot of moments when was doing my first ABC Motsepe League game, (Smiles) it was excellent but my first SAB Regional League game was at George Thabe Stadium & it was very hard. What I’m enjoying most about being a referee is that one travels to places, theres nice 5 star hotels & the opportunity to meet new people every now and theres a potential to became wealthy & well known.

VD9N: How hard or easy has it been to get respected being young & female?

Refilwe Motaung: Well yes there is respect but sometimes during the game,( laughs) they really lose their mind.

VD9N: What are your short, medium & long term goals when it comes to officiating referee?

Refilwe Motaung: Yoh, I am done with short and medium term goals. I am left with long term goals that I’m busy working on now. I would like to be in the national panel, I would like to buy my dad a car with money from the Premier Soccer League (PSL) he has been supportive ever since day one of my soccer career. There were times whereby I felt like giving up due to the pressure pains of some games as football life isn’t really easy especially when you are a young woman.

Refilwe with her active supportive Dad

VD9N: Who has been the referee you look up to?

Refilwe Motaung: It has to be Mr.Victor Hlongwane (smiles). He developed my personality when it comes to the field of play.

VD9N: How do spend your quality time?

Refilwe Motaung: I’m always with my dad when I’m free, I assist him with some of his work stuff, but lately I’m always with my boyfriend when I’m free (smiles).

VD9N: What is your message to other young females as they try to take on the journey of life?

Refilwe Motaung:

They should always know the journey of life isn’t that easy as it sounds. I have learnt that if you have passion in life you going to go through a lot, all they have to do is to keep on pushing and avoid being distracted by the fun of the world. They should never give up after all if there is no pain there won’t be no gain, they should familiarise themselves with pain so that they can be strong and achieve whatever dreams they have.

VD9N: What is your favorite genre of music?

Refilwe Motaung: Well, I love Pop and Ragga music.

Refilwe the African Princess, an inspiration

Vaal Diski 9-Nine salutes Refilwe Motaung on the tremedous strides she has undertaken in the pursuit of the realisation of her passion, we further encourage her to consistently be fearless in all she wishes to achieve, Halala Gaetshedi, the Vaal is proud you!!!

Player Focus:Precious Dhlamini

Precious in action against boys, showing that football is all about ability

Names: Precious Nonhlanhla 

Surname: Dhlamini

DOB: 1997-11-09

Position: Forward

Previous Clubs: Nale Football Academy, Vaal Milano Ladies FC, Reeds United FC.

Current Club: NWU Vaal Ladies

One of the most promising female footballing talents the Vaal Triangle has, Precious Dhlamini is a star on the rise,here is her story.

On what sparked her love for football?

Precious: At a very young age, I’d say when I was about 9 years old whilst playing soccer in the streets with boys as the only girl.

On whether she was ever surprised that she was often the only female playing football ?

Precious: No, I’ve always enjoyed standing out, being the only female surrounded by males pushed me harder.

On when she decided to move to organised football from street football?

Precious: When the local boys soccer coaches showed their interest in my soccer ability and other coaches of ladies teams, at that age I was 10 and my mother told them that she could only allow me to start being involved in such teams at the age of 12 as I was still young and being the only female didn’t sit right with her. I joined the local boys teams,but then I realised I needed something more organised and thats when Nale Football Acacdemy was introduced to me at the age of 14 years.

On her time at the Nale Academy…

Precious: It’s a wonderful journey of my football career, NFA is my family, and I’ve gained a lot of experience in that team, It’s one team that, one doesn’t forget when they are far in their career, everything that I know in football, I learnt from that team so my time there is & was amazing. It is great team that’s made me love football more.

On the role Coach Zacharia Nale has played in her football & life ?

Precious: He has played a very huge role in my life and football. He supports me in everything I do and guides me into making the right decisions in life and in football, I’d say he is a father figure to me.

On her time at Vaal Milano Ladies FC

Precious: It was great, It exposed me to many ladies teams, camps and competitions.

On her time at Reeds United FC…

Precious: My time at Reeds was short as It was in Carltonville and the league we played in was short, so The experience there was okay, Not necessarily tough competition though.

Precious in action for NWU Vaal Ladies in the Sasol League

On her current experiences, playing for the NWU Ladies FC…

Precious: The experience here is wonderful as we are playing against all the universities in this province. The Sasol League where there is pretty much competition, encourages me to work harder, I get exposed to a lot of things in this team as I was currently involved in the University Sport South Africa national team trials which was a great experience and there is still more exciting things to come which overall makes it the best experience.

On her football aspirations…

Precious: My football aspirations are to be Recognized in top teams, travel as much as I can, hardwork and happiness at the same time, be out there for everyone to see.

On her feelings of the slow pace of professional women’s football in the country…

Precious: It’s very frustrating, It’s like we are not taken seriously, whereas we want to be recognised. More tournaments would give us exposure into the world football.

On her your favourite football players?

Precious: Cristiano Ronaldo is my all time favourite player & Amanda Dlamini.

On who are her favourite football teams?

Precious: Real Madrid and Manchester City Women’s FC.

On what her hobbies are?

Precious: I enjoy shopping, watching movies and hanging out with friends.

On what are her football high & low moments thus far?

Precious: High moments would be the USSA National Team trials,Mamelodi Sundowns Ladies Trials and being part of the Sasol League. Low moments would be playing locally at this age.

On the her mother’s support…

Precious: My mom has always been Supportive, She’s always been there for me.

Precious on trial at Mamelodi Sundowns FC Ladies, one of the highlights of her football journey thus far

VD9N Continental Focus…

​Hope resides in togetherness – African proverb

Future Black Star – Shaffick Sheriff

Name: Shaffick

Surname: Sheriff

DOB:19 February 2001
Place of birth: WA in the Upper West Region,Ghana

Current club: BYF ACADEMY
Previous club: Flamingo FC

Position: Central Defender & Central Defensive Midfielder

Jersey Number: 2
Name of the Competition: GN BANK DIVISION ONE

VD9N: Hello Brother,thanks for your time,what does your name mean?

Shaffick Sheriff: Hi Brother thanks,it means specialist in sympathy.

VD9N: Why did you choose football?

Shaffick Sheriff: It is because I have a passion for it & also I want to replicate what my father did as a footballer.

VD9N: What are your football aspirations?

Shaffick Sheriff: It is to become one of the best players that football has ever seen & to get the chance to play for the best teams across the world, including Orlando Pirates FC & Kaizer Chiefs FC.

VD9N: What are your football attributes?

Shaffick Sheriff: I am a very good passer of the ball, good aerially & have a good tackling technique.

VD9N: Could you share more with us about your hometown.

Shaffick Sheriff: WA Central is my hometown it is located in the Upper West Region. The current Premier League champions are based in WA Central, the name of the club is called WA ALL STARS and it is the hometown of the current Football Association President of Ghana Mr. Kwesi Nyantakyi. WA Central is predominantly dominated by Christians, the most common language here is Wala & Dagate. Our best food is Tuo Zaafi with Gran Nut Soups.

VD9N: What are your views on Ghanaian football,locally & the national teams?

Shaffick Sheriff: The local league in my view doesn’t look attractive, clubs always struggle to get a sponsorship & for the last 2 to 3 seasons the league has been without a headline sponsor & sadly clubs too are not performing well in continental competitions. The national teams are doing well except the male junior teams.

VD9N: Who is your favourite Ghanaian footballer?

Shaffick Sheriff: My favourite Ghanaian footballer is Daniel Amartey of English Premiership Champions Leicester City in England.

VD9N: Which area would you recommend to South African travellers to visit in Ghana?

Shaffick Sheriff: Nkroful in the Western region because it is the hometown of the Ghana’s first President Dr. Kwame Nkrumah.

VD9N: What is your biggest wish for African football?

Shaffick Sheriff: It is to see an African country winning the FIFA World Cup.

VD9N: Asante (thank you).

Striking the Balance with Tumelo Mokwena

Advice is a stranger; if he’s welcome he stays for the night; if not, he leaves the same day. ~Malagasy Proverb

Manakory* to the elders, fellow sisters, brothers & football fanatics. Today marks the 7th week of the year 2017, let us continuously be resolute in our resolutions. Its never too late to restore our resolutions.

Elders Are Still Important…

Elders will always play an integral role in society, they are the leaders of the pack. Been there, done that & will forever have signs of past experiences. Elders are the pillars of society, without them the community collapses, often a forgotten part of our daily lives but ironically the first we think of when seeking direction as their advice is highly sought. Elders are so revered that a clever someone once said ‘the death of an elder is tantamount the burning of a library’, they might not all be techno savvy nor of the generation X but in them lies wisdom, wisdom rarely available on our advanced mediums.

You can tweet, hashtag etc but that which they have is precious, its decades old. The knowledge of thyself is the first tool to real emancipation & it is this which elders have kept real from their earlier years. Elders always have the answer whenever we face problems, nurture us & our young into incredible gentlemen & women. It is thus crucial that we forever respect, learn as much & show them how much we appreciate them. As globalisation continues to bring with it trends, let us also take & practice the wisdom of our elders such as Mama Esther Mahlangu (legendary Ndebele artist who has designed Ndebele artwork for BMW to use both interiorly & exteriorly) who have contributed to the world through their indigenous ways than simply adapting to #trends. Let us seek their knowledge whilst alive to further preserve our ways as a people. To baholo ba rona, rea le leboha!

Vaal Diski 9-Nine Ambassador Tumelo Mokwena writes in his capacity as an Educator & devout Christian

Malagasy* is an Austronesian language and the national language of Madagascar.

Striking the Balance with Tumelo Mokwena

“We delight in the beauty of the butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.”―Maya Angelou

A good morning to our elders, fellow sisters, brothers all football fanatics. As we come to the conclusion of January, we need review the last few weeks. We need to keep tabs on ourselves, so as to check if we are on the right towards our aspirations.

Understand every level has its challenges…

The journey of life is full of phases, phases to learn, phases to act etc. As we reach new heights, we need to accept the fact that each phase will come with its own challenges & we need to be willing to deal with them. The moment we assert ourselves that for every challenge we face we will deal with it, our road towards our aspirations becomes clear. 

Challenges allow us to not to be complacent, they are like storms often quick but have the potential to create havoc. Challenges if not dealt with head on often create havoc in our lives, thus one finds people becoming addicted to various destructive elements. By running away from our challenges, we not only fail ourselves but we allow for them to multiply often creating bigger problems in our lives. What we do not deal with, will forever haunt us.

Brothers & sisters, we ought to also allow for natural progression, that which starts down & goes upward not the other way round. Let us strive hard towards our aspirations, deal with our challenges & remember to strike a balance in our lives.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine Ambassador Mr.Tumelo Mokwena writes in his capacity as an Educator & devout Christian

Until next week, lets Maintain the Balance

Striking the Balance with Tumelo Mokwena

A wise person will always find a way. ~ Tanzanian proverb

e kaaro* to our elders, sisters, brothers & fellow football fanatics. A happy new year from Striking the Balance with Tumelo Mokwena, I wish you all an awesome prosperous 2017.

Make a great start…

Along the journey of life, the teaching that says “its not how we start, but how we end that matters” has grown to an extent that many of us have taken heed to it so much,  subsequently forgetting  that we ought to start & at that make a great start. It is essential that we all make a great start in our respective endeavours as it will propel towards a great end.

To all who did not make it in 2016,be it matriculants, job seekers, entrepreneurs & all, the year 2017 allows for another chance to make right in all our aspirations. As we embark on another year & journey, it is important to review so as to look back on all that occurred good & bad. The process of review should then allow us to reflect, which is a more personal analysis of ourselves, we ought to look at the methods we used in trying to accomplish our endeavours. As we take on this process what is of great importance is to be honest, as being true to thyself is crucial for one to progress.

The abovementioned when truly taken into action is paramount to learning, as we all by now, learning is not only institution based but an everyday occurrence often desperate for us to activate. Let us remember that the Lord Almighty has a plan for us & let us take that we have learned seriously & apply it as we take on our endeavours. Let us all remember to strike a balance in our lives, as the journey is complex.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine Ambassador Tumelo Mokwena writes in his capacity as a Footballer, Postgraduate & devoted Christian

e kaaro* translates to good morning in Yoruba, a language which originates from Benin City in Nigeria. 

Striking the Balance with Tumelo Mokwena

“Every football game is like a page in a book, we ought to derive lessons”- Moroke Archibold Bojosi

Good day to our elders, sisters, brothers & all football fanatics. Today I would like to salute all former matriculants of the class of 2016 for having written their exams. By writing these exams it was already a success as many would have loved to reach this stage in their lives.

Build, love & appreciate yourself

To the former matric class of 2016, life totally begins now. The real world awaits you, most importantly with highly anticipated matric results as they have the power to transform your lives. Do remember though,  that no matter your matric results you have so much to offer this world. Let us accept whatever results that do come, with a hindsight that we cant all be meant for the same destination. The reality is that we might all participate in a race but not all of us might be suited for the specific speciality. Let us allow the lesson of life that,  in order for the world to continuously progress we need to all accept we are here to complement each other. I might not sing that well, but I can dance well to your singing & thus we are able to progress together with are unique gifts.

I pen this contribution with a sad heart, after recently receiving news of the passing of my fellow classmate.  Though difficult to accept, I have come to a conclusion that we are all here to fulfil our specific mandates, whether it is to just reach matric & depart the world or be alive for a few minutes that would be the intended mandate. Fellow brothers & sisters let us strive to live lives of impact for fellow mankind & as we work hard in the push towards our aspirations, let us strike the balance professionally, nutritionally, physically & socially as we do not know when the Lord Almighty will call, let us live our lives to the fullest.

Vaal Diski 9~Nine Ambassador Tumelo Mokwena writes in his capacity as a Footballer, Postgraduate & devoted Christian

Until next week lets Maintain the Balance

Narrating The Vaal Triangle Football Story

Striking the Balance with Tumelo Mokwena

“The life each of us lives is the life within the limits of our own thinking. To have life more abundant, we must think in limitless terms of abundance”. -Thomas

Dreier

Dumelang baholo, bo abuti, bo ausi le bohle ba rati ba bolo ya maoto. Today is November the 6, 2016 marking the 46th week of the year. A huge shutout to the Simon ‘Bull’ Lehoko Foundation, Sedibeng & Emfuleni Municipalities on hosting another memorable Legends match between the Vaal Legends & Orlando Pirates Legends. Both teams gave their all & showed, what makes them the legends they are. Thapelo Liau scored a classical chipped goal whilst our own Steve Lekoelea mesmerized the Vaal legends with a grand counter goal & concluded the game with his usual stunner of a free kick. Though Vaal lost 0-3, the likes of Peter Khoabane, Pitso Lekone, Lucky Mhlathe & Bingo Nnete were forever enterprising whenever in possession.

Let us fulfil our roles with distinction...

Along the journey of life as we grow & transform, the word responsibility holds a constant feature in all we embark upon. “It is often said that one who takes responsibility, truly resembles a mature head”.
We often meet up with the word responsibility as we grow due to the fact we are able to choose what is correct & wrong. Responsibility then evolves as we take on roles in our lives, the role of a father, mother, aunt, uncle, brother, sister etc. These roles do not grow us but rather help us understand responsibility. Majority of these roles are due to our choices, we know we will become fathers & mothers when we have sexual intercourse without no precautions hence we ought to live up to our roles once the responsibility arises. 

We need to all fulfil our roles with distinction, we need to give our all & make the best of our roles. It is when we all give the best efforts towards our roles that we can tackle the social ills & decrease the majority of negativity. When we enjoy & fulfil our roles as fathers, mothers, grandmothers, grandfathers, nieces & uncles we then allow for greater maximisation in the various positions we hold. A happy wife will most definitely transform as many learners in her class as an educator, a dignified father will lead his company to greater heights & a well-taught son/daughter will flourish in their endeavours as the foundation from the home will be exemplary. The above-mentioned fulfilling their roles will steer us towards united & happier communities, regions, provinces & countries. Africans let us fulfil our roles with distinction, the answer to all our plights begins there. 

Vaal Diski 9~Nine Ambassador Tumelo Mokwena writes in his capacity as a Footballer, Postgraduate & devoted Christian

Until next week lets Maintain the Balance

Narrating The Vaal Triangle Football Story