Engen, South Africa’s leading petroleum brand and partners, SuperSport United continues to contribute to the development of young footballers when they visited the Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School in Umlazi, Durban on Friday, 18 March, ahead of the SuperSport United game against Golden Arrows. The SuperSport United marketing team with Ambassador, Jabu Mahlangu made the trip to Umlazi with Engen Representatives to present the Ogwini Comprehensive School with much needed football equipment.

Ogwini Comprehensive is a public secondary school with approximately 3 149 registered learners. The school is part of the Engen Maths and Science programme, and recently achieved an average pass rate of 85, 6%. Pupils from grades 10 to 12 at the school are expected to do a minimum of nine subjects. They are empowered by the school motto: “Don’t make the minimum requirement your maximum effort.” The strength of the school is not just in academics. It offers 18 sporting codes in order to ensure the holistic development of their pupils.

SuperSport United football ambassador Jabu Mahlangu addressed the pupils. The former Bafana Bafana star encouraged the pupils to pursue their dreams, both academically as well as on the sports field. The motivational talk by the South African football legend was well received resulting in rapturous applause especially when he challenged 10 selected pupils to a skills competition. The selected pupils revelled in the attention received and after settling their nerves they showed off their skills with a ball, unfortunately Jabu showed why he is still regarded as one of South Africa’s finest. For their efforts each competitor received an Engen and SuperSport United merchandise hamper resulting in big smiles all round.

The crowning moment of the Ogwini Comprehensive School visit arrived when the Engen and SuperSport United representatives presented the school with a framed, autographed SuperSport United Shirt as well as football equipment for the school’s teams. Mr Dlamini, the Ogwini Comprehensive School Principal said, “I started working here in 1995 as a teacher and rose to become the principal in 1998. I have been 17 years in office, but this day to me is quite exciting and one of the most memorable occasions. As you can see my children are very excited to have Engen and SuperSport United here today. We are very happy to receive the donation of the football equipment. I would like to thank Engen and Supersport united for coming to the school today, to hear Jabu Mahlangu speaking to the pupils here today was truly inspirational. The visit of Engen and Supersport United to our school today will go a long way to promoting social cohesion especially as this is the theme of our nation today.

Finally, as a gesture of thanksgiving I am going to recommend to the school’s board that we rename our annual football competition the “Engen SuperSport United” football competition, once again I thank you very much.” Jabu Mahlangu the SuperSport United Ambassador said, “Today we came here to meet with the children and have fun with them, but of course as the SuperSport United Brand Ambassador and with our sponsors Engen, my mandate is to motivate and share my experiences with them. I understand the challenges that they are facing and I want to make sure that my life can be a testimony for them to make the best of their opportunities. Today we gave them positive energy and for me it’s always an honour to be able to help shape the lives of these youngsters who have their whole future ahead of them. What they need to understand is that the decisions that they make now, will determine their quality of life in the future.”
Brad Bergh, Engen’s Group Sponsorship Manager, said that the visit to the school underlines Engen’s commitment to providing a platform for youngsters to perform at the highest level.

“As a company, we are hoping that through this initiative of providing equipment, Ogwini Comprehensive Technical High School will produce players that will participate in the Engen Knockout Challenge and, one-day, that they too can make the step-up to play the beautiful game at a professional level. “This is where it all starts, and Engen is delighted to be a part of the development of football players at grassroots level,” adds Bergh. Tasneem Sulaiman-Bray, Engen’s General Manager: Corporate Affairs said that the company is proud of both its partnership with Supersport United and its commitment to making a difference within the communities in which it operates.

“I must thank Supersport United for participating in this initiative. Engen’s cares about the communities in which it operates and strongly believes in the power of football to uplift and inspire the youth of Durban,” adds Sulaiman-Bray.
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