The pitfalls and perils of the transition to professional sport are well known. Less well known is how to prepare for these stark realities, specifically in local football, which is why MultiChoice has produced a vibrant new show, “Life Lessons: Father to Son”.
The premiere will be on SuperSport Variety 4 on Friday 22 April 2022, at 6.30pm.
Anchored in real-life experiences, the show takes three former professional players, who now have sons playing in the DStv Diski Challenge, and tracks the lessons they impart on their boy
Having been there and done that in a very real sense, the former professionals are able to offer meaningful advice around the fame and fortune that results from becoming a professional player in South Africa.
Filmed on location in the Kruger National Park, the fathers - Eugene Zwane, Fabian McCarthy and Manqoba Ngwenya, who all enjoyed illustrious careers in the Premiership – discuss the good, the bad and the ugly of their sport with sons Samkelo, Aden and Thandolwethu respectively.
Some stark truths about a career in professional sports are revealed.
Indeed, the life lessons regularly imparted from father to son at home and sometimes taken for granted by the son, when shared publicly can sometimes be the difference to a fatherless teammate or opponent.
The Diski Challenge thus believes it has a responsibility of guiding and safely transitioning as many players as possible from amateur to professional football through such borrowed “father figures”. Moreover, Diski Challenge graduates can be helped to make the right choices in their careers through the wisdom of former players who’ve seen it all and also have sons on the same journey.
“This is about adequately equipping Diski Challenge players with the know-how of avoiding the trappings that are part and parcel of a professional football career,” said MultiChoice’s Group Executive for Corporate Affairs,- Collen Dlamini. “It is important to shape the next generation of our footballers into responsible and socially conscious young men because football development is not only about what goes on in the field of play – off-field development is equally important.”
Broadcast details
Friday, April 22nd
PSL (202), Variety 4 (209) – 6.30pm
Saturday, April 23rd
PSL (202) – 10.15am
Monday, April 25th
Variety 4 (209) – 1.30pm and 9.30pm
Tuesday, April 26th
PSL (202) – 2.30pm
Wednesday, April 27th
PSL (202) – 7.30am
Thursday, April 28th
PSL (202) – 11.30am