Nelson Mandela University awards diplomas to students of the 18th FIFA/CIES International Programme

In an atmosphere filled with laughter and emotion, Nelson Mandela University celebrated the awarding of diplomas to eighteen students of the 18th FIFA/CIES International Programme in Sports Management. The students had joined from South Africa as well as Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

Prof. Zoleka Soji, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, along with the other speakers at the event, highlighted the importance of the MANDELA/FIFA/CIES partnership, which represents a legacy from the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Indeed, the course provides training for sports managers not only from South Africa, but also from other countries across the continent. Many former students now hold key positions within sports organisations or companies.

In this regard, Solomon Mudege, Head of Development Programmes Africa at FIFA, said, “This programme has gradually established itself as a benchmark. In many of the places I visit, I have the opportunity to meet former students who now play an important role in football and other sports.”

Nelson Mandela University offers a curriculum that combines a solid theoretical foundation with a practical approach to the various aspects of the industry. With a focus on face-to-face teaching, it enables students to interact with one another and with local and international experts. This emphasis on interaction and sharing in the classroom, the importance placed on interpersonal relationships, and the opportunity for networking constitute a considerable advantage from which students continue to benefit long after they have graduated.

Our warmest congratulations go to Tinashe, Carl, Christina, Katlego, Mercy, Emlyn, Sinovuyo, Masethe Lloyd, Lerato, Mosa, Keith Mafadzo, Alister Roger, Mmanteletsane, Alec Fela, Marshall, Pheagane Hosea, Lungelwa, Lisa Ndona and Mussa.

We would also like to thank the Mandela team for their dedication and outstanding work over the past two decades.