An Edenglen High School pupil has been selected to represent South Africa in the International Drum Majorettes Competitions.
Naledi Tladi (17), currently a grade 11 pupil at the school, has proven that through hard work, dreams do come true. She was also selected as 2017 School Leader.
“My dream has always been to inspire the youth that through hard work and dedication in whatever one dreams of, it will come to pass,” said Naledi.
Naledi has been selected to represent South Africa in the International Drum Majorettes Competitions, in Croatia. She will also go to France. She is one of 28 girls from around the country selected to participate at this event. The team left South Africa on September 19 and will be in Europe for two weeks.
“We will be accompanied by the South African Majorette and Cheer-leading Association (Samca) director, Mr Cornel Bezuidenhoud and Mr Anton Stadler, national team trainer,” said Naledi.
On September 18, an award ceremony was held at St Dominic’s Catholic School, where the team was awarded Protea colours by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic committee (Sascoc).
Naledi said her journey began in 2013 when she started Grade 8 at Edenglen High School.
“I was interested in drummies even though I never held a mace on my hand. I joined the Edenglen High School’s The Blues drummies under the manager, Ms Cindy Tiley and head trainer, Ms Taryn Tiley, who welcomed me with both hands,” she said.
In November 2014, she received her Gauteng colours and in December of the same year went to Pietermaritzburg for the Samca trials, where she was awarded her Samca colours.
This year, she went for the South African colours and was selected.
“This has been an exciting but hard journey for me and I will always cherish for the rest of my life. I am grateful to God for achieving all of this. I am also grateful for my head trainer, Ms Taryn Tiley and my former trainer in The Blues Twanayne Brink for seeing the potential in me,”said Naledi.
She said her family is where she draws her strength from as they have always been supportive of what she does.
She urged young people to stay away from bad influences and participate in different sporting codes.
“Whatever you dream of, through hard work, perseverance and dedication, all our dreams become reality,” she said.
