Cape Town. Banyana Banyana player Jermaine Seoposenwe visited her former school, Portland High in Mitchell’s Plain, as part of the Sasol #Limitless internship programme. The Western Cape born striker visited the school on Wednesday, 23 January 2019.
Jermaine visited the school following Banyana Banyana’s friendlies against the Netherlands and Sweden, for the Inaugural Winnie Mandela Challenge and the Albertina Sisulu Centenary Challenge in Cape Town, in the aim of motivating and inspiring the school’s learners.
The #Limitless internship programme, which was launched in July 2018, forms part of Sasol and the South Africa Football Association (SAFA)’s #Limitless initiative.
Through this programme, women footballers are given an opportunity to gain work experience and to become skilled in marketing, public relations, sports activations and project management, offering them an opportunity to prepare for the workplace.
As part of the internship programme, Banyana Banyana players Seoposenwe and Bontle Mashilo have been working at leading sports marketing agency Levergy, Sasol and SAFA respectively.
“I’m so happy to have visited Portland High, it’s good to know that I am able to inspire others through my work and achievements. As someone who grew up in the same community, I wanted the learners to know that they have what it takes to achieve their goals if they work hard and stay focused.” Said Seoposenwe.
Growing up in Mitchell’s Plain, Seoposenwe matriculated from Portland High in 2010. She then received a scholarship at Samford University in the United States of America, landing her a degree in Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, majoring in Marketing.
While she was in the United States, Jermaine also became part of the Samford University ladies football club. She has been part of the Banyana set-up for eight years. While in Cape Town, Seoposenwe saw an opportunity to tell her story to inspire learners at her former school. Learners who are facing the same challenges she did growing up, this is what #Limitless is all about, inspiring others and helping them to realise their true potential.
“My aim was to also advise them to pursue academic studies as well as following their sporting dreams, because as a sportswoman, once you retire or even if you get an injury you need backup. You need to have something else that will keep you going because in sports, there are no guarantees. That is why I’m grateful to Sasol and SAFA for giving me this opportunity, allowing me the chance to explore and gain work experience outside of football.” Said Seoposenwe.
Jermaine finished her term at Levergy in September 2018 and is currently working at Sasol. She will then move to SAFA and back to Levergy to finish the internship.
Portland High principal, Ridwaan Williams added, “We are so proud of Jermaine, she is such an inspiration to the girls at Portland High. It’s good to see a former learner overcome the circumstances surrounding the community. We are grateful to her for coming to the school to motivate the learners. I hope that her advice will inspire them to follow in her footsteps.”
The #Limitless internship programme will run until June 2019 and aims to give more deserving female footballers this opportunity in the future.
For more information on the #Limitless initiative and to show your support, search #Limitless on Twitter.
