When talent meets opportunity.

Golf is one of the most expensive sports a young person can pursue. Clubs, practice, coaching, tournament entries and travel add up long before talent has a chance to show. A young athlete also needs a school that can support both sport and study.

Tieho Matona found golf at a local driving range in Welkom, where he collected stray balls while dreaming of playing competitively. His enthusiasm and natural ability quickly caught the attention of local mentors who began to guide his development.

The Foundation supports Tieho’s development on two fronts that we treat as one: his golf and his education. Alongside backing his development as a player, the Foundation worked with his family to secure a place at a school able to support both his academic progress and his sport, and supports his school fees.

Tieho’s progress reflects many contributors: the local mentors who first recognised his talent, his family, individual supporters, and ROCVEST as a corporate supporter of the Foundation’s talent work.

• Two consecutive victories in the Machabeng Junior Golf Development Champion League
• Competed in the FSGU Schoeman Open and the FSGU Oppenheimer Open
• 2nd place on the Order of Merit
• Selected for the Free State team

Just as important, his education and his golf are moving forward together. We follow both over time rather than treating either as a fixed endpoint.

Continuity: keeping Tieho in a school that supports him, and giving him the coaching, equipment and competition exposure the next level demands.

Sponsorship of school fees, equipment, coaching and tournament travel makes the difference for young athletes. Individuals can give to the Talent Development fund, and companies can sponsor young talent through a CSI partnership.

Explore Sport, Arts & Talent Development