The Role Of Sports In Grooming Youth For Adulthood

Four children racing after a football playing on a field

By Paul Phume

JOHANNESBURG – It is every parent’s dream to see their kids being excellent at whatever they choose to do as adults. The journey towards adulthood is filled with endless anecdotes of wisdom and skills passed on from the older generations. I have observed how sport also plays a role in grooming young people for the future.

As a young man, I played and enjoyed basketball. The sport kept me busy in high school and university. One of the achievements in the game is that I represented South African Universities (SAU) and South African Sports Students’ Union (SASSU) in 1991. I even made it to a selection in the South African Senior Basketball team in 1992.

In pure fantasy, I dreamed of playing in the American NBA. A lot of young people who played basketball were motivated by the likes of Tyrone Curtis “Muggsy” Bogues, who, despite being only 5 feet 3, went on to play in the elite league for 14 seasons. Another small guy who became popular was Spud Webb, who clinched the dunk contest title at just 5 feet 7. I did not make it to the American NBA, but the sport shaped a lot of who I am today.

I still try to follow various South African sports when I get a moment. Recently, I have been motivated by the story of 100 meters sprinter Akani Simbine. Akani is not only an Olympic silver medallist, but he also has the fastest 100m time in the world this year so far, with his 9.90 seconds he clocked in Gaborone, Botswana, on 12 April 2025. In fact, Simbine is the first athlete in history to run under 10 seconds in the 100m for 11 seasons in a row. That surpassed the previous record of 10, held by Bolt. It earned him a new nickname: “The sub-10 king.”

Not every young person will become an Olympic athlete like Simbine and/or turn professional. Participating in sport, even at a junior level, helps shape the character of a young person. Even though I didn’t get to be professional, I learnt a lot from sports.

Discipline is probably at the top of the attributes that sport teaches. Even in high school, one must be disciplined to do well in sports. Mastering discipline will span across adult life as well as chosen careers. Teamwork is another of the attributes that one learns early, participating in sport and carries well into the future as an adult.

As a young person, one has to learn emotional intelligence, having to deal with many disappointments of not making the team, losing a game, or getting along with fellow sportsmen. One must learn how to remain calm when it seems, at the time, the team or the young athlete is untouchable in terms of success in the sport. We also know how participating in sports assists in keeping young people out of undesirable activities like substance abuse.

The depth of great grooming attributes learnt from participating in sport as a young person is immeasurable. As an entrepreneur, I am quietly appreciating all the teachers, coaches, fans, referees, venue managers, administrators, parents and fellow athletes who provided the platform for me to learn a whole lot of life skills, even though I did not get to be a professional athlete.

Paul Phume is a Johannesburg-based businessman, social justice activist and philanthropist. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of BLACKMAGiC GROUP. The views expressed are his own.