WATERFALL College’s Grade 12 pupil, Sicelo Thwala, was chosen as its SPAR Star of the Month.
This is the second year that he has been selected, and the school felt that his recent achievements highlighted at the WFC Sports Evening recently, warranted his selection again.
Sicelo has a commanding presence both on and off the field, as he is a prefect and the WFC Head of Sport for 2014. The school’s sports coordinator, Christine Eriksen, said, “Sicelo has now received his KKZN (Karate KwaZulu-Natal) Development Colours, twice, and will compete in the Karate South Africa National Championships in Tongaat in a few weeks time. He was also awarded the Shuji Tasaki Hanshi True Spirit school trophy and received school honours for karate. In rugby, Sicelo received the Delport Trophy for Rugby Player of Year.”
Sicelo started his rugby career in Grade 2 at Ashley Primary School, and he said he had always enjoyed the game of rugby. “It’s fun, very physical and helps you get to know your limits,” he said.
He started his other passion, karate, last year. In the same year he took up advanced fitness, a popular all-round fitness programme that the school offers to build physical fitness across various sporting disciplines.
Sicelo’s soccer career started in Grade 9 at Waterfall College. But his firm favourite sports are tied between rugby and karate. “In karate you are always learning new skills, such as how to complete a Kata (demonstration) and how to fight in a competition. Sport, especially karate, has taught me a lot and helped me build my physique and clear my head,” said Sicelo.
He spoke highly of Christine Eriksen, the sports coordinator at WFC, who recently received a SKISA (Shotokan Karate-do International South Africa) award for her work in karate. “Mrs Eriksen makes you feel comfortable. She is not judgemental and she is able to come down to your level and encourage you.”
His biggest challenge, especially as a matric pupil, has been to balance academics, sport, as well as captaining the Waterfall College karate, soccer and rugby team. The highlight of Sicelo’s sports career to date is the gold medal he achieved in karate for Kumite (fighting). Sicelo hopes to join a club-level rugby sports team next year, once he has completed the IEB Matric exams.
“We wish Sicelo well in his sporting career and congratulate him for being selected two years in a row as WFC’s Star of the Month,” said Jeanette van der Merwe, the principal of the school.
