Spar Superstars Berea Mail 2024

MAARIYAH Mathir (10) has come out shining after a unanimous pick from her school to be the star of choice. She is a Grade Five learner at Orient Islamic School. She sparkled across both primary and high school as the overall achiever.

Since 2018, Maariyah has run and finished the popular SPAR and TOTALSPORTS 5km races. She has represented KZN in artistic gymnastics competitions and is currently seeded at Level 2.

Her achievements recently won her the coveted Endurance Award at the school’s 30th annual fun run after she completed 7.5km.

She boasts a gold medal after she came first at a district swimming gala.

Academically, she is shining even brighter. She is a science whiz who has taken part in various maths and science fairs among peers from across the country. Her presence was also felt at the National Science Olympiad, as well as the Conquesta Olympiads where she showcased her maths, English and science prowess.

About her future plans, she reckons she will continue on her sports trail, but her eyes are set on being an optometrist.

“I love reading, especially history and autobiography books. I have written an adventure book, and I hope that, soon, it will be published,” she said.

She advised her peers to try hard and look into their own talents because everyone has one.

LUKHONA Radebe’s journey in gymnastics began when she joined Gordon Road Girls’ School in Grade One and took up gymnastics as an extracurricular activity.

By Grade Two, she had joined Ocean Rhythmic Gymnastics where her talent quickly became apparent.

In 2023, she participated in friendly competitions and earned the ‘Best Newcomer’ award, marking the start of her preparation for the KZN and South African Gym Games.

In August 2024, Lukhona’s dedication and hard work paid off when she qualified for the KZN Gymnastics Team, securing her spot at the prestigious South African Gym Games in September 2024.

In September, she competed in the Higher Performance 1 category (age 8) and delivered an outstanding performance. Lukhona won a national bronze medal for her ball/apparatus routine and achieved an impressive third place overall nationally in her age category.

The eight-year-old’s achievements at such a young age are attributed to her passion, discipline and natural talent, making her a promising young star in the world of gymnastics. She has her sights set on the Olympics and cites the award-winning Simon Biles as her role model in the world of gymnastics.

“Next year, I hope to participate in more rhythmic gymnastics competitions and represent my province. I encourage all the children to do their best, stop eating junk food and exercise their bodies,” she said.

Lukhona has also been a ballerina since Grade RRR. She hopes to venture into the world of modelling and the arts as she grows up.

Whenever she feels nervous during competitions, she always remembers the words of her friend to ‘keep smiling’. And she thanks her family for always supporting her whenever she loses or wins or feels bad.

WITH the sport of BMX racing having featured in the past two summer Olympic Games, and with a cousin who raced internationally in the BMX scene who has now retired, Dominic Eggar has all the inspiration he needs to succeed.

The Grade Four learner at Durban Preparatory High School (DPHS) is also a talented BMX rider and represents the Queensburgh BMX Club.

The 10-year-old put in some stellar performances at the recent SA BMX Cup Championship in Cape Town.

Dominic placed first in Leg 7 and second in Leg 8 and returned with his SA2 number board which ranks him second in the country in his age group (U10).

He was also selected for the KZN winning team.

“I’m incredibly proud of my performances at the champs. For the past three years, I’ve come home with the SA3 number board, so to go one better was a great feeling for me. My parents and my teammates have helped me achieve my goals this year, and they’ve been a key part of my success. I also look up to my cousin, Dylan Eggar, who inspires me. He has eight world numbers, and I would love to, one day, emulate him,” he said.

Dominic also plays hockey, rugby and cricket for his school, and his favourite subject is mathematics.

IT looks like his soccer career has solidified already. Thato Alakhe ‘Smiles’ Mdluli (19) is already making moves in the world of soccer.

The Glenwood High School matriculant is currently playing for PSL’S AmaZulu U19 team.

Thato was born in Eswatini and immigrated to South Africa in 2020. At the age of six, his soccer skills were evident, and that propelled his family to make a decision to enrol him in Glenwood Boys’ High, where they believed that both his academics and soccer prowess would be best honed. He started playing for his primary school in Eswatini, and he was unstoppable from there.

He was selected to play for Glenwood High School’s soccer team in 2021, then in 2023, he was signed by the AmaZulu U19 team. This year, he graduated to Diski Challenge’s U23 team.

He is currently the captain of Glenwood High School’s first team, and they have raised some trophies to date, including the Big 10 provincial tournament.

“Playing for the first time in the Diski Challenge was the highlight of my soccer career. We played against Orlando Pirates, and that was a dream come true,” he enthused.

He has already been called up to represent Eswatini’s national team for a game against Mozambique in the COSAFA U20s. This is where he scored a goal and created a few chances.

He’s a natural winger although, in earlier years, he was always a midfielder.

His favourite team is Real Madrid, and he dreams of playing for the team one day. Thato has his plate full with training five times a week, playing games on Saturdays and doing schoolwork during the week.

“Careerwise, I have no plan B. Soccer is my calling, and I intend to rise as far as I can. I work hard and dedicate myself. I always try to keep myself busy in order to stay focused,” he said.

The director of soccer and first-team coach at Glenwood, Khaya Ngwenya, shared, “Thato is a special young man. – that’s probably the best way I can describe him. He’s so talented. One of the things I like the most about him is that he truly loves football. The hours he puts in for football are just remarkable. I could never say enough about him as a player. He has been at the tip of his game this year for us. He has unbelievable skill with the ball, great technique and is unbelievably fit. He captained a very young Glenwood side this year to two trophies.

“For the future, I have no doubt the young man has what it takes to reach his goals. He just needs to continue on this path and keep working towards his goals. Hopefully, he stays in Durban so I can go watch him play live because he truly is something to marvel at.”

Thato is grateful to his mentor – his father – who has been his sounding board. He’s also looking into doing accounting at tertiary post-matric while he is involved in soccer full-time. This, he says, is his fall-back plan in case of unfortunate scenarios or retirement from soccer.

ST HENRY’S Marist College learner Liyolatha Mbekeni was recently selected for the U15B KwaZulu-Natal (KZN) Softball team that will compete in an inter-regional tournament (IRT) later this year.

It is a massive boost to the Grade Eight learner’s dreams of one day representing South Africa in the sport.

The 14-year-old, who only began playing softball last year, said he decided to try out the sport for the fun of it.

“I play several sports including rugby, cricket, cross country and water polo. In Grade Seven at my previous school, Atholl Heights Primary School, I decided to give softball a go because I wanted to try out something new. When I joined St Henry’s this year, my love for the sport grew even more. To make the KZN team is a dream come true and one I’ve worked hard for. I’m really looking forward to the IRT in Limpopo later this year, and my goal is to help the team win a medal and my individual goal is to make the U15 All-Stars team,” he said.

To be successful in the sport, Liyolatha said you have to be dedicated, committed and train hard.

He also plays softball for the Royals Softball Club.

SINCE the age of eight, Durban High School (DHS) learner Lincoln Wilson has proven his skills and natural talent in the sport of badminton by making the KwaZulu-Natal team.

The Grade 10 learner recently participated in the All African School Championships for Badminton in Senegal.

The 16-year-old won bronze in the mixed doubles, bronze in the team event for air badminton (outdoors) and took home the gold for air badminton triples (outdoors).

Speaking on his performances at the championships, Lincoln said it was a good experience.

“The competition was stiff, but it was a really positive experience. I feel that by playing international tournaments like this, you learn to adapt because you are playing people who are faster and stronger than you. I was very proud of representing the SA Schools team and making it to the quarter-finals of the singles competition. I would add that Benin was our toughest team at the champs; we played them in the triples match, and it was tough,” he said.

Inspired to take up the sport by his sister, Kelsey, who also represented KZN, Lincoln hopes to, one day, represent the SA team at an international competition.

At school, he plays for the squash first team as well as basketball.

Off the court, Lincoln loves languages and is learning Mandarin.