Kwa-Thema Disability Club does Gauteng proud in national championships
The disabled athletes won many medals in Cape Town.
The Kwa-Thema Disability Club athletes did well in the Toyota South Africa Sports Association for the Physically Disabled National Championships held in Cape Town from March 17 to 21.
Four soccer players with cerebral palsy (CP) and 12 para-athletes represented Gauteng.
The CP soccer players were Sicelo Mdhluli, Katlego Sera, Sandile Malaza and Refilwe Mosifan. They were part of the winning Gauteng team and returned with gold medals.
The para-athletes and their positions:
• Siphesihle Mabhena participated in the javelin and the shot put, winning two gold medals.
• Lungiselelo Ndlovu participated in the 1500m and 800m runs, winning two gold medals.
• Dimakatso Letageng participated in the shot put, discus and javelin. He won bronze, silver and gold medals.
• Collen Mahlalela participated in the 100m and 200m runs and long jump, winning two gold medals and one silver. He also bagged a South African and world record standard in the long jump
• Noxolo Kunene bagged a silver medal in the shot put.
• Tshegofatso Lekgothane participated in the 200m run and won a gold medal.
• Bongekile Miya bagged a silver medal in the sitting shot put.
• Nhlanhla Mbeninge won two silver medals in the 100m and 200m races.
• Mbali Dlamini participated in the 100m, 200m and long jump, winning a gold medal and two silvers.
• Nthabiseng Phala won a silver medal in the shot put.
• Onikokuhle Sinxi bagged two silvers in the shot put and long jump.
• Karabo Norman bagged silver and gold medals in the shot put and javelin.
Club chairperson and para-athletics coach Aubrey Mathibela said, “I am happy they performed well. I had hoped all the athletes would return with the world record standard, but that didn’t happen.”
Siphesihle Mabhena (14) said he was happy with his performance and wants to continue playing sports until he’s an adult.
Sandile Malaza said he is proud of how they performed as a team.
