State must do more to grow sports talent

He is only 18 and in matric, but Bayanda Walaza has been the toast of Mzansi following Team South Africa’s silver-medal performance in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics.

The celebrations continued on Thursday as Walaza was given a rapturous welcome by his school, Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria, where he was honoured by his fellow pupils.

Also present was Walaza’s mother, Tholiwe, as well as Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube, who first placed the silver medal around the mom’s neck before handing it over to the sprinter.

Earlier in the week, Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie was also part of a welcome party at OR Tambo International Airport for Walaza, relay teammate Bradley Nkoana and swimming queen Tatjana Smith, who won a gold and silver in the 100m and 200m breaststroke events respectively.

McKenzie has been speaking about the Department of Sport providing greater assistance to athletes to prepare for major international events.

That is nice to hear, but it remains to be seen what type of support will be given, as the athletes need way more than just post-event financial rewards to be able to compete on an equal footing with the rest of the world.

But back to Walaza. Hailing from Katlehong, he received a scholarship to attend Vorentoe High School, and then later a bursary to attend Curro.

But how many other Bayanda Walazas are out there who aren’t able to receive bursaries? It shouldn’t be a case of athletes only getting to the top of the sports world if they attend former Model C or private schools.

There needs to be greater co-ordination between the Sport and Basic Education departments to develop young talents around the country.

The reintroduction of physical education in schools is vital to promote participation in sport, while the procurement of facilities – and coaches and managers to help run the programmes – is crucial to assisting youngsters wishing to pursue a career in sport.

Let’s hope that there is a greater will from the government – instead of undeservedly grabbing some of the glory afterwards – to produce more Bayanda Walazas, as we have seen the pride and joy that such athletes bring to the whole of Mzansi.

Cape Times