The Premier Skills Physical Education (PE) teacher training
programme—a collaboration between the Premier League, the British Council, and
MultiChoice’s SuperSport Let’s Play initiative concluded today at St Mary’s Secondary School
in Mahikeng.
Held from 14–17 April, the four-day workshop equipped teachers to deliver inclusive,
engaging, and safe PE lessons. The programme is part of a national drive to promote
structured physical activity in schools.
Since its launch in October 2023, Premier Skills has trained over 700 teachers and coaches
across 25 districts and five Let’s Play Centres of Sporting Excellence (LPCOSE). Backed by
SuperSport’s Let’s Play initiative, these centres provide multi-purpose sports fields that
support accessible, sustainable PE.
The programme has reached schools in seven provinces, Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal,
Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Free State, Northern Cape, and Western Cape, cultivating a culture of
active living among learners.
Located in Lomanyaneng Village, St Mary’s Secondary School welcomes The training for
empowereing local teachers and sparking excitement among learners. With limited access to
formal PE, the initiative is unlocking opportunities for youth development, healthier lifestyles,
and stronger community connection through sport.
“We are very excited and honoured to be selected as a beneficiary of the Let’s Play sports
field,” said Ramolefe Boitumelo, Deputy Principal of St Mary’s Secondary School. “This
programme will benefit not only our school, but the wider Mahikeng community as well.”
Teachers learned how to plan structured sessions, adapt activities to their context, and
promote teamwork and safety. The training ended with a school sports festival involving over
100 learners, led by the newly trained educators.
As part of the programme’s legacy, St Mary’s will also receive a Let’s Play multi-purpose field
to support continued sports development.
Ms Boitumelo Lesemela from Ipeleng Primary School shared. “I’m very thankful and fortunate
to have been part of this programme. I’ve realised we’ve been very coach-centric, giving
players few chances to communicate or follow clear instructions. That led to confusion. I’m
excited to apply what I’ve learned and empower my learners.”
Graduates join Local Organising Committees (LOCs) that coordinate community events like the
Let’s Play Fun Run and Modified Hockey Heritage Day Festival, which have drawn over 6,000
participants nationally.
Since 2013, the British Council and Premier League have trained more than 3,500 educators in
South Africa, reaching over 117,000 children. With MultiChoice’s continued support, the
programme is uplifting communities through the power of sport and education.
The next training session takes place at Leolo Technical High School in Burgersfort from 22–26
April 2025.
For more information, visit: www.multichoice.com
