Solid Gold Podcasts #BeHeard Education Investment with Monde Nkosi

The Business of School Sports in Africa with Thando Bakumeni

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Thando Bakumeni (Head of SuperSport Schools) joins host Monde Nkosi to discuss youth sport in Africa. Thando reflects on the human side of youth sport - such as its role in communities and unearthing talent - and unpacks the commercial side of youth sport. He also shares the roots of his passion for sport and pays tribute to those who have shaped his journey.

Thando is the Head of SuperSport Schools, the leading broadcasting platform for youth sport in Africa. Founded in 2021, the SuperSport Schools App has rapidly grown to more than 1.3 million registered users. In 2024 alone, SuperSport Schools covered more than 4.5 thousand youth events in 3.5 thousand schools and clubs across more than 50 sporting codes.

Prior to SuperSport Schools, Thando was Senior Manager for Africa Sport at SuperSport covering a wide range of countries including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya and Zambia. He started his career in sports marketing at Playmakers. Thando holds qualifications in Sports Management and Business Administration from the University of Pretoria and Wits University.
Chapters
  • 00:01 Introduction to Education Investment
  • 02:41 Thando's personal background and family
  • 05:06 Sports teams and family traditions
  • 09:17 The role of school sport in Thando's life
  • 13:27 Introduction to SuperSport Schools
  • 19:49 The scale and community impact of school sport
  • 25:41 Unearthing talent through the platform
  • 28:38 The business model and scale of operations
  • 35:55 Technology and partnerships
  • 40:33 Balancing professionalisation and positive impact
  • 42:53 Future vision and favourite teacher
17 Nov English South Africa Education · Investing

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