Locals can now play squash

A passionate Soweto lad has started a squash club in Tembisa.

In 2016, Nkateko Hlatshwayo moved to Tembisa to take up a management position at Modderfontein Squash Club, where he still works.

“I had to move to Tembisa because it’s close to Modderfontein and it makes it easy for me to travel,” said Hlatshwayo.

While living in Tembisa, Hlatshwayo noticed squash is not popular in the township and felt a need to introduce Tembisa’s youth to the sport.

“I noticed that kids in Tembisa had never been introduced to squash, so I decided to pitch an idea to the Modderfontein Squash Club committee to start a development project in Tembisa.”

The committee helped to secure sponsors, which enabled Hlatshwayo to launch the project.

He is currently working with 15 children from Tembisa and is expecting more to join because interest in the sport is gradually growing.

He said training sessions are on Saturdays at 10am until 1pm at the Modderfontein squash club.

“Children are not required to pay anything thanks to the sponsors, namely Lotto and Moneyline.”

Hlatshwayo said he started playing squash in 2004 and rose through the ranks until he was given an opportunity to coach at Egoli Squash in 2013.

“I coached there until 2015. Egoli Squash was a programme that identified children in schools and taught them how to play squash.”

For more information on Tembisa’s squash club, please call Nkateko Hlatshwayo on 078 573 6308.