SuperSport in association with the Wits Business School closed the second Executive Sports Management Programme on Thursday as graduates walked away with their certificates of completion. A ceremony held at the Wits Business School, saw all the participants who hailed from various sporting codes, gather to close the course with key members, sponsors, friends and family.

Participants from the Football, Athletic, Gymnastic, Rugby, Hockey and Cricket Fraternities participated on a course sponsored by SuperSport.

The course included modules on Sports Management, Corporate Governance, Strategic Marketing Management, Finance, Strategic Planning and a focus on Leadership. The course took place from March-September and saw SuperSport making a promise to sponsor for an additional year with a fourth course on the cards.

Mr. Imtiaz Patel from SuperSport said on Thursday night with a smile on his face: ‘I am very happy to say we would like to sponsor an additional course, I feel the objectives have been reached and it feels almost premature to end here, SuperSport will sponsor a fourth course!” Mr. Patel also said, “This was also a networking platform, where relationships have been forged, I only hope that the participants keep these new found connections and keep in touch with each other!”

Kaizer Chiefs Marketing Manager, Jessica Motaung, made her academic mark and completed the course with fellow Football colleagues, the PSL’s Ntambi Ravele, Zwelethu Mzolo (PSL), Bafana Dhlamini (SuperSport United).

Other classmates included Zola Majavu (SAFA), Gerald Majola (Cricket South Africa), Tseko Mogotsi (SA Gymnastics Federation), Tom Paremoer (SA Rugby) and Paul Richards (SA Hockey Association).

Internationals who attended the course included Awwalu Salihu (National Broadcasting Commission-Nigeria), Tom Tikolo (Cricket Kenya), Ozias Bvute, Andrew Muzamhindo and Vimbai Maiswa (Zimbabwe Cricket) andSalihu Abubakar (Nigeria Football). Gary Boshoff (Comerades Marathon Association), Tina Dube (SuperSport Int.), Eddie Du Plooy (SAFA), Jaques Faul (Cricket SA), Jeremy Fredericks (SuperSport Int.), Zolani Gosani (SARugby), Toni Irish (SA Cricket Association), Nakedi Lekota (SA Football Association), Zak Masetle (SA Football Association), Maureen Mashabane (Theta), Don Mcintosh (Cricket SA), Cliff Pringle (SARugby), Mahlubi Puzi (SARugby), Nico Swartz (SARugby) were the other sports administrators invited to take the course.

Speakers at the event included Mr. Patel, Ms. Xolisa Sibeko (New Director General of Sports) and Professor Mthuli who opened and closed the ceremony.

Jessica said the following after her graduation:” It’s an empowering experience to have the tools to become a good leader; it has been a great to be able to have the opportunity to acquire the skills to be good sports administrators. The gift of education is priceless, it creates sustainability and it was an incredible journey! I would like to thank my lecturers, classmates and SuperSport as well as the Wits Business School for this opportunity!”