Kwa-Thema – In the world of sport, the spotlight often falls on the players who score the goals, lift trophies and make headlines.

Behind every successful tournament, however, is an army of administrators whose dedication makes those moments possible.

Pontsho Shakhane is one of those people: a sports administrator whose work demonstrates how sport can become a powerful vehicle for community development, opportunity and social transformation.

Currently serving as a Community Games Administration Officer for Nomndayi Community Games, Shakhane has built a career around creating the structures, systems and opportunities that allow sport to thrive at grassroots level.

With experience spanning football administration, tournament management, player registration and eligibility, stakeholder engagement, compliance, logistics and community sport programmes, Shakhane has developed a reputation for understanding that sport is about much more than what happens on the field.

Building the game from behind the scenes, Shakhane’s professional journey has taken her through various football administration and management environments, including teams within the Springs Local Football Association, the Gauteng SAFA Regional League and the Mpumalanga ABC Motsepe League.

“These experiences have exposed me to different levels of the football ecosystem and strengthened my understanding of what it takes to build sustainable sporting programmes.

“My work with the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation (DPSACR) in the East Corridor further expanded my experience, contributing to the implementation and coordination of community sport and recreation programmes,” she explained.

For Shakhane, administration is not simply paperwork; it is about creating an environment where athletes can participate, teams can operate, competitions can run effectively and communities can come together.

More than a sports administrator, Shakhane’s contribution has also received recognition.

“In 2021, I was named Ekurhuleni Sport Administrator of the Year, while in 2022, I was a finalist for Gauteng Women Sport Administrator of the Year,” she said.

These milestones form part of a broader story: a woman using professional knowledge and passion to contribute to the development of sport from the grassroots upward.

Holding a National Diploma in Sport Management from Tshwane University of Technology, Shakhane represents the growing importance of professional sports administration in developing sustainable sporting ecosystems.

“At the heart of my work is a bigger idea that sport can change lives. A football field can become a classroom where young people learn discipline, teamwork and responsibility,” she added.

“A tournament can become a meeting place where communities build relationships. A sporting programme can give a young person confidence, purpose and a sense of belonging.”

She said that sport can also create opportunities beyond playing. This is why the work of administrators such as Shakhane matters.

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“When the systems behind sport are strengthened, more people get the opportunity to experience the transformative power of sport,” she said.

Through her involvement in community sport, Shakhane continues to contribute to an environment where participation extends beyond elite athletes.

Her work reflects a sporting philosophy centred on community participation, youth development, inclusion and positive social impact.

It reminds us that the success of sport should not only be measured by trophies and championships, but also by the lives touched along the way.

Shakhane’s journey illustrates the important role women continue to play in shaping the future of sports administration and community development. Her story is ultimately bigger than one position or one tournament.

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