Khotso Mokoena’s YASDI accredited as national CPD provider for teachers
18th February 2026
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South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) High Performance Manager and Athletes Commission Chairperson Khotso Mokoena is celebrating a major milestone after his organisation, YASDI – Youth Athletes Skills Development Institute, was officially accredited by the South African Council for Educators (SACE) as a national Continuous Professional Development (CPD) provider for teachers.
The accreditation means YASDI can now assist teachers and physical education (PE) educators across the country with structured development programmes aimed at improving school sport and unlocking learners’ potential.
Founded by Mokoena, YASDI focuses on equipping young athletes with essential life skills such as entrepreneurship, leadership and character development, preparing them for life beyond competitive sport.
“I am making sure that I go beyond just talking and actually help schools in terms of sport. We want to support teachers, especially in schools, because that is where my own talent was identified and nurtured,” Mokoena told the national broadcaster.
The former Olympic silver medallist, who turns 41 on 6 March, reflected on how his journey began under the guidance of a teacher who recognised his potential long before he became a household name.
“I was identified by my maths teacher, Elna de Beer. At the time, she was not even a Level 1 or Level 2 coach, but as a teacher she had that instinct to spot talent and nurture it.
She then went on to acquire her Level 1, 2 and 3 coaching qualifications so she could properly train learners who showed potential. I was fortunate to be one of those learners,” he explained.
De Beer, an athletics coach at Nigel High School, played a pivotal role in Mokoena’s development, guiding him from gymnastics into athletics and ultimately helping him become a Commonwealth Games triple jump gold medallist and Olympic silver medallist in the long jump.
Mokoena says the SACE accreditation is another step towards strengthening school sport structures and ensuring young athletes receive the right guidance early in their development.
“Today YASDI is recognised, and we want to get the best out of our athletes in schools. I am very excited about this role because sometimes the work we do after retirement goes unnoticed. People want to know if we are struggling after winning medals, but they don’t always talk about the positive impact we continue to make. This is about building a lasting legacy,” added Mokoena.
