LIMPOPO – Since retiring from teaching in December 2024, veteran sports development coach Gezani Mashaba has remained actively involved in nurturing young talent and advancing sports development in Giyani and beyond.

A lifetime in youth sport development

Mashaba’s journey in youth sports development spans more than three decades.

His passion for nurturing talent began in 1990 when he started teaching at Xikukwani Primary School. There, he introduced athletics training and helped learners develop their running skills, with some progressing to compete at a national level.

Early coaching foundations

“In 1990, when I started teaching at Xikukwani Primary School, I trained learners in running and athletics.

“Some of them went on to compete nationally in Durban. Lawrence ‘Malori’ Mhlongo and Henry Mchavi represented us at Moses Mabhida Stadium,” Mashaba recalled.

Building structured school sport programmes

His contribution to school sports expanded in 1994 when he moved to Mashengani Primary School in Xikukwani village.

There, he introduced structured football development programmes for boys and girls in the u/13 and u/15 categories and registered the school with the Giyani Schools Sports Association (Gissa), where he later served as general secretary.

Developing players for higher levels

Over the years, Mashaba identified and developed numerous talented footballers who went on to enjoy successful careers. Among them is Rhulani Victor Ngunyule, whom he spotted at the age of 12 before the player went on to feature for clubs such as Dynamos FC, Witbank Spurs, Bloemfontein Tigers, and Bidvest Wits University.

He also discovered Wiseman Madlaya Maluleke, who is now coaching Phalaborwa United, and goalkeeper Godfrey Chauke, who both represented South Africa in various youth tournaments. Chauke later caught the attention of Orlando Pirates during the Transnet u/14 tournament in Gauteng.

One of Mashaba’s proudest achievements came in 2003 when his team won the Eskom u/12 championship.

The success attracted the attention of sports administrator David “Benny” Mufamadi, who recruited Mashaba’s entire squad of 23 players to become the founding learners of Benny’s Care Sports Academy in 2004.

Leadership in school sport structures

Beyond coaching, Mashaba held key leadership roles in school sports administration, coordinating major youth tournaments and serving at circuit, district, and provincial levels within the South African Schools Football Association (Sasfa).

He said he was proud to have developed players who reached the top tier of the game, including Gladwin Shitolo and Kutani Mabasa, who played overseas and represented Bafana Bafana.

Still active after retirement

Mashaba also organised trials in Giyani for leading academies and professional clubs, helped establish the Greater Giyani Mayor’s Cup, now a key scouting platform for PSL teams, and continues to serve as a technical adviser and scout at Benny’s Care Sports Academy, a role he has held since 2004.

Though retired from teaching, he remains dedicated to youth development, urging parents to support their children’s talents rather than impose unfulfilled ambitions.