The SportSmart Futures Programme continues to be a catalyst for growth, energy, and inspiration—and the past few weeks have been no exception. Each session has brought new opportunities for learning, movement, and real-world impact, as participants strengthen their skills both on and off the field.
Starting Strong: Warm-Ups with Purpose
Each morning kicks off with dynamic warm-up sessions led by the CATCH Trust Coaching Team. But these warm-ups aren’t just about getting the body moving—they’re about building the right mindset and understanding the “why” behind each exercise. Coaches explain how proper preparation helps prevent injuries and boosts performance, empowering participants to take ownership of their physical well-being.
Warm-up routines are thoughtfully designed to include cricket-specific skills, building muscle memory and readiness for the games ahead. Once warm-ups are done, the action heats up: participants split into teams for spirited six- or ten-over cricket matches, while others rotate through skill stations testing agility, accuracy, and teamwork.
Performance at these stations feeds into the SportSmart Futures Programme Cricket Leaderboard, igniting friendly competition and extra motivation to push boundaries and excel.
From the Field to the Future: Street Smart Up Start
After the morning cricketing activities, minds switch gears into entrepreneurial mode through the Street Smart Up Start course, facilitated by Nigel Mercuur from Lucha Lunako. This engaging learning space equips participants with foundational business and personal development skills—turning ideas into action.
Topics covered so far include:
- What is a REAL business opportunity?
- Why start your own business?
- What makes businesses fail?
- SWOT or NOT: Business and personal perspectives
- S.T.A.R.T Now: Launch a real business today
- SELL: Marketing and sales principles defined and applied
- Understanding Profit
- Calculating profit in real-world scenarios
One standout success story comes from Lazola Sidindi, who proudly shared how the programme sparked his wheelie bin cleaning service—a venture that now helps him support himself and his community. Lazola shared:
“We the youth, we in the community. Not that we don’t want to work, we want to, however, in this day, it is tough. A programme like this, brought together with Lucha Lunako and CATCH Trust, requires the youth to participate and learn within the programme, not only to play cricket, but to open the minds for them to think beyond.”
“From this programme, my mind opened up and became more Street Smart, and I then came up with an idea to wash wheelie bins for the community and promote hygiene in a way that could generate an income. This then gave me the opportunity to find my own place and provide for myself.”
Stories like Lazola’s highlight how SportSmart Futures is not just about education—it’s about empowering youth to create change and build a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
New Insights: Introducing the Actioning Course
Building on this momentum, the Actioning course—led by Lucha Lunako’s Liyema Mpayipheli and Simamkele Baleka—takes learning even further. These interactive sessions focus on practical steps to transform ideas into tangible results.
So far, participants have explored:
- Vision, Goals, and Values
- Self-concept
- Relationships
- Habits: The DNA of Success
These topics, collectively known as the Building Blocks of a Vision, equip participants with essential tools for personal and professional growth.
The SportSmart Futures Programme is proudly delivered by The CATCH Trust in partnership with Lucha Lunako and forms a key part of the Sport for Education and Sustainable Livelihoods in Africa (SESLA) initiative. SESLA is a collaborative effort by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), the International Olympic Committee (IOC), and the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation—all committed to advancing youth education and employability through sport across Africa.
The energy, learning, and transformation witnessed every week stand as a testament to what’s possible when young people are given the tools, support, and safe spaces to grow.
We can’t wait to share what comes next. Stay tuned—there’s more to come!
