Transnet exits School of Excellence RFP for new donors issued

This development follows the conclusion of a Request for Information (RFI) process that was launched in May this year. 

SABC Sport understands that this latest move could see some of the biggest names in football (coaches or officials) take advantage of this opportunity to come in as donors and run the school. 

The School of Excellence was established in 1994, as a Corporate Social Investment (CSI) programme of Transnet, with the vision of providing opportunities for talented youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds to combine quality education with elite football training. 

Over the years, the academy has produced some of South Africa’s finest footballers, including Steven Pienaar, Bernard Parker, Keagan Dolly and Phakamani Mahlambi, as well as current rising stars such as Kutlwano Letlhaku and Relebohile Mofokeng.

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The school has long been regarded as a conveyor belt of talent, producing hundreds of professional footballers for Premier Soccer League (PSL) and overseas clubs, many of whom have gone on to represent Bafana Bafana and the junior national teams.

However, financial difficulties in recent years have placed the institution under strain. 

In 2022, Transnet’s board approved its withdrawal as both trustee and donor. As the sole funder, the parastatal had been investing a minimum of R20 million annually into the school’s operations – an outlay that translates to more than R200 million over the past decade or so. 

Despite these challenges, the School of Excellence has continued to unearth and nurture talent, now making waves in the PSL and on the international stage. The future of the institution will now depend on new partners stepping in to secure its legacy.

SABC Sport has followed this story closely over the past few years, with the Gauteng Department of Education, having previously shown an interest in taking over the school but abandoned those plans along the way. 

In the statement, Transnet says, prospective donors should demonstrate a track record and capacity for delivering measurable impact and long-term sustainability for the school. 

The following key attributes will be considered: 

• Expertise in soccer coaching (strong background in coaching youth soccer and running school-based sports programmes); 
• Commitment to Education and Vocational Training (capacity to integrate academic support into the program, and facilitate access to vocational training or career development programs); 
• Provision of resources for academic support (provision of resources such as tutors, study materials, or access to educational programs that support the academic needs of learner-athletes); 
• Community engagement (facilitate effective stakeholder and community engagement for the school); and 

Innovation and Sustainability (long-term vision alignment and financial stability).