Mpho Seate Intends on Growing Better Opportunities for the Youth

Mpho Seate has overcome obstacles to become the national coach of the Protea squad and a skipping rope coach in the North West province. 

In addition to being a sports enthusiast, Seate is also a Senior Education Specialist who, in 2022, was recognised as one of the top 50 most influential young people in the Free State, where he was born.

He received the Protea colours at the 2023 URU World Championships in Colorado Springs, USA, and won the Best Skipping Rope Coach prize at the 2021 SA Gymnastics Awards, among other career milestones.

Despite the difficulties he encountered along the way, he never let them deter him from pursuing his passion for gymnastics and improving possibilities for young people in his community.

We discover more about Mpho Seate throughout this conversation:

Mpho, thank you for your time. Please tell me about yourself and where you are from?

Mpho Seate (31) originally from a small town in Thaba-nchu, Free State currently lives in Atamelang Location, Tswaing, Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, North-West Province, South Africa. He is involved in the Sport of Gymnastics (Rope Skipping) both a Provincial (NW Gymnastics), National team Protea Coach, Husband and father of 2 daughters, Remofilwe and Oboitshepo Seate.

When and where did your love for sports begin?

My love for the sport of rope skipping started in the year 2006 at Mmabana Thaba Nchu when I saw my high school friend taking part and travelling the country and later on formed a club called Vrisgewaagd Wild Cats Jump Rope Club when I started working as a teacher IN 2015. Mpho has turned children from harsh backgrounds into World Class Rope Skippers “I use the Sport of gymnastics as a tool to tackle many social ills in rural communities for a variety of people (young, old, and differently abled”.

Besides being a rope skipping coach, you are a teacher. How do you balance the two?

I am now a Senior Education Specialist in Tswaing Local Education for Mathematics 4-9. I do most of my training after 4pm and most of the time during weekends.

What has been some of the challenges you have faced in your career and how did you deal with them?

Most challenges I’ve faced were financial in terms of securing funding for registration, transport and accommodation but managed to overcome them by using different social media platforms, local radio stations, local businesses and the North West Provincial Department of Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation to source donations.

You recently went to USA. Please tell us more about the trip and what you make of the sport from other countries compared to South Africa?

Going to the USA was a once in a lifetime opportunity that I will always remember for the rest of my life as I met some old friends and made new ones, created relations/networks with India and Asian rope skipping, respectively. Well I’d say the sport in other countries is advanced as compared to us for they have academies, coaching is done in state of the art facilities with athletes having access to Physiotherapists, psychologists, Biokineticist/Strength and conditioning coaches to mention a few. 

What has been some of your career highlights?

-Being awarded best rope skipping coach in South Africa at the 2021 SA Gymnastics Awards.

-Receiving an award for the premier’s top 50 most influential youth in the free state in 2022.

-Qualifying and winning national and international competitions.

-Receiving Protea Colours at the 2023 IJRU World Championships in Colorado Springs USA.

What do you think of the state of rope skipping in the North West province and what can be done to improve it?

The sport of Rope Skipping is growing tremendously in the province as only 1 district was participating and now all 4 districts are involved in both schools and community clubs also inclusive to learners with disabilities.

What is it that people don’t know about you?

I am a strong believer in word of God, very social and hope to one day be a certified motivational speaker.

What is it that you do for fun?

Play basketball, fitness, and enjoy open mic sessions.

What do you still want to achieve in rope skipping?

My goal is to grow the sport and create better opportunities for youth in our communities of North West by using it as a tool to fight against the ills (drugs, teenage pregnancy, gangsterism etc.)

Photo: Supplied