An Exciting Kick-Off for iKhaya’s Sports and Fitness Training Programme

Sanele Krishe (top right), Loyiso Skoti (top left) and our soccer-mad iKhaya boys pictured with their new football equipment.

What do you get when you combine brand-new soccer equipment (bibs, balls, gloves, cones, and whistles), one former professional footballer turned coach, and a team of soccer-mad iKhaya Le Themba boys? 

Ikhaya’s very first soccer team-in-training, of course!

The new football team forms part of iKhaya’s fledgling after-school Sports Fitness and Training programme and is headed up by coach Lunathi ‘Lulu’ Mdatyulwa. Hailing from Imizamo (IY),  27-year-old Lulu is no stranger to the iKhaya kids and initially started volunteering his coaching services to give back to his community. He is now our official soccer coach and we couldn’t be happier.

Life Skills For All

Educational, social and emotional support, sports and fitness, life skills, and confidence are all on the agenda at iKhaya Le Themba, as we work to build a strong foundation for our children’s future dreams and careers. 

According to Sanele Krishe, iKhaya’s Project Manager, football offers several benefits to the iKhaya kids: “Physical fitness, teamwork and social skills, discipline and responsibility, mental health, goal-setting and perseverance, cognitive development and fun and enjoyment - that is why it is so important for us to make sure we have a passionate coach to coach our boys in these skills.” 

We recently caught up with coach Lulu to learn more about his motivation to join iKhaya and his plans for the young team. 

beyond the soccer field

Lulu shared that he identified a gap at iKhaya and approached Sanele and our Grade 5 and 6 learning facilitator, Loyiso Skoti, to get involved. He only had good things to share about his experience so far.

“It’s quite an amazing job to coach this beautiful bunch of young guys…it’s been quite a good journey and I am really enjoying it,” he said. 

“For me, it’s a good challenge to work on my skills in working with each child: how to work with someone with inner issues, or who’s shy. How do I make him feel comfortable around the group?”

What Lulu hopes his group of junior soccer enthusiasts will gain from his coaching reaches beyond the soccer field:

“I hope to teach them more about life; specifically life after football. Most of them won’t be playing as professional players, some will be doctors and some will be teachers. So, I want to teach them about life to improve their life skills, teach them respect, and remind them to stay humble at all times.”

Cycling for Change

Ikhaya’s new football equipment and full-time coach were made possible by a fabulous group of 22 riders who cycled 109 km around the Cape Peninsula in March this year to raise donations towards our Sports and Fitness Training Programme. 

A collage of the 2024 Cape Cycle Tour Charity group and our iKhaya kids showing their support on race day.

Seven Hout Bay locals donned their sponsored iKhaya cycle shirts for the second year to fundraise and raise awareness for iKhaya le Themba. Thanks to each cyclist’s efforts, the support of their wonderful friends and family, and the generous support of Ninety One, our 2024 Cape Cycle Tour Charity Group Cyclists raised a whopping R46 000 towards our Sports Training costs for the year. 

We are most grateful!

If you would like to join them at the next Cape Town Cycle Tour on 9 March 2025, please get in touch. We will be sure to send you more details. Charity group entries will open very soon.