Germiston teen athletes chase big dreams on and off the track

A group of promising young athletes is making its mark on the track while balancing school and the search for better opportunities.
Meet Neo Nathan, Hosanwalter Ukuchukwu, Siphesihle Mncwangi and Siyabonga Mhlanga, four teens driven by their love for sport and dreams of competing at the highest level.

Spotted training at the Germiston Stadium, the four youngsters share one thing in common: They are all in Grade 10 and share a deep love for athletics.

Neo’s (15) athletic journey began with soccer, playing for the Venda Young Royals. Over time, his interest shifted to sprinting, specifically the 100m and 200m events.

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“I have two medals from soccer between 2023 and 2025. This year, I am playing for the U15 team and hope to stay fit,” said Neo.

Though he once quit soccer to focus on athletics, he realised its positive impact on his speed and later returned to the field to maintain conditioning.

Now a Grade 10 learner, Neo competes in inter-house and inter-school athletics, with a focus on short-distance sprints.
Hosanwalter (16) enjoys swimming and basketball, but has never competed in either professionally due to limited resources and a lack of sports facilities in his community.

“I’m a competitive person by nature. I would have loved to compete given the chance. Now, I play basketball as a hobby,” he said.

A friend inspired his athletic ambitions, which led him to participate in the 100m, 200m and 400m sprints at school.

He also plays soccer and hopes to join a club-level athletics programme.

“I want to compete in club athletics to test myself beyond school competitions,” said Hosanwalter.

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Siphesihle (15) only discovered his athletic potential after transferring to his current school earlier this year.
Until then, he hadn’t participated in competitive running.

“To my surprise, I didn’t know I was athletic. Since I started running in February, I’ve competed in inter-house and inter-school events,” he said.

His natural talent quickly shone through, earning him gold medals in the 100m and 200m and bronze and silver in the 400m events.

“My dream is to compete internationally and represent the country,” said Mncwangi, who now favours the 200m sprint.

Siyabonga (16), who was inspired by stories of his father’s days of running, began sprinting at the age of 10. Though he never saw his father compete, the stories ignited his passion.

“Though I’ve only heard of him, I believe stepping onto the field makes me happy,” he said.

Siyabonga has had a strong season, finishing third in the 400m inter-house, second in the inter-house and inter-school 400m, and second and first in the 100m inter-house and inter-school, respectively.

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Now, he’s seeking a club to continue growing in the sport.

“We’re all looking for a club to test our skills and see where it’ll take us. While each of us has a unique journey, we share a common passion: Pushing our limits and, one day, competing on the national or international stage.

“With proper support, facilities and exposure, our futures as athletes could change for the better,” said Siyabonga.