Drum majorette to compete in world championships
The young girl only has three years' experience but is already travelling abroad to compete in a global championship.
KEMPTON girl Gabriela Pinto will represent South Africa at the World Drum Majorettes Competition from August 26 until September 4.
Pinto, a grade 7 pupil at Maranatha Christian School, will be travelling with the national South African Drum Majorettes team to Croatia where they will compete against 17 other countries.
They are leaving on Monday, August 25, and will return on September 5.
“I am very excited to have this opportunity to compete overseas and represent my country, even though the experience is always nerve-racking. In the back of my mind I will have thoughts that I might make a mistake but I believe all my hard work will pay off and I am very happy I was chosen to participate,” Pinto says with a smile.
Indeed, the young girl’s hard work did pay off, because she was one of just 48 majorettes who were chosen for the national team to represent SA internationally. And considering that she only started the sport three years ago when she joined the Rynfield Drummies in Benoni, she has done incredibly well so far.
“To qualify for the team, I had to achieve my Gauteng colours, then participate at SAMCA (South African Majorettes and Cheer Leading Association), which is a four-day camp. Once I made it through that, the last round was qualifying for the Protea national team.”
There girls’ Protea blazers will be officially handed over to them during a prize-giving evening at Rynfield Primary School on Sunday, August 24.
Her mother, Anna, will accompany her daughter to her very first world championships.
“We are so proud of her. Her participation in the championship is such a great achievement. It’s such a wonderful feeling when your child exceeds beyond your expectations. Drum majorettes is such a wonderful sport and it would be lovely for every girl to participate in it,” Anna said proudly.
