Daphney Mofya: A principal with a passion

LIMPOPO – The 43-year-old  seasoned principal at Kgabetli Primary School in Moshate Village, is also the founder and director of the Mogalakwena Sports and Skills Training.

Mofya said: “Heritage is very important to me, because it symbolises who you are and it gives you a sense of belonging.”

This strong willed woman was born and bred in Mosesetjane Village outside of Mokopane and after she matriculated from AB Makapan High School she obtained her teachers diploma at the former Mokopane College of Education. She furthered her studies at the University of Pretoria where she obtained her B.Ed Honours Degree, specialising in management law and policy.

She started her career in 1993 as a teacher at Ditlou Primary School and eight years later she continued her teaching journey at Nkontlha Primary and in 2006 she was promoted to principal at Nkokone Primary School where she held the position until she was transferred to Kgabetli Primary School in July 2015.

“I love my job, as it enables me to make a positive change in children’s lives and it grants me the opportunity to help shape our future leaders. As a principal I want to create lifelong opportunities for the youth,” Mofya said.

Mofya told Bosveld that she initiated the Mogalakwena Sports and Skill Training in 2013 as she has a great passion for sport especially football. She further said that the aim of this initiative is to expose the local talent to renowned teams.

Thanks to this initiative two local scholars were recently scouted by Mamelodi Sundowns and given a full scholarship.

“This makes me feel fulfilled to see two young boys from local communities realise their dream.”

When asked where her love for the game originated, she laughed and said her older brother was a fierce football player and she and the whole community used to cheer him on while he was dominating the field.

“Right there at the young age of 14 I fell in love with the game. If only there was a women’s team back then I would definitely have played myself.” Today Mofya boasts with numerous soccer certificates and a broad knowledge of the game. She is a big Kaizer Chiefs and Manchester United fan and says that it is her dream to meet the former Manchester coach Alex Ferguson one day.

Mofya is a strong believer in turning the impossible into ‘im-possible’ and she says that the secret to success is passion, dedication and a good support base. “I am grateful for my husband Marcus Tlou Mofya and my younger sister Kgadi Mabaso as they are my biggest supporters.”

She says that her plans involve a fully-fledged academy that will produce well developed football players and her dream for Mogalakwena is for sporting facilities to be improved in all 179 surrounding villages.

“If the youth has the facilities to improve their sporting talents it will help them sustain from drug and substance abuse. The difference you want to see in this world starts with you… make it happen today,” Mofya said.

redaksie.bosvelder@nmgroup.co.za