WATCH: Young Tokollo flies Tembisa flag high with President Ramaphosa
Young golfer rubs shoulders with President Cyril Ramaphosa
Tembisa Golf Club’s own star golfer Tokollo Dhlamini has been flying Tembisa’s flag high.
She was invited to play golf with President Cyril Ramaphosa at the annual Presidential Golf Challenge at Atlantic Beach Golf Estate in Melkbosstrand on February 8, soon after returning from her trip to Malaysia in December.
The 12-year-old has been with Tembisa Golf Club’s development programme since 2012 under the management of coach and club manager Sam Serongoane.
Tokollo’s mother Linaht Dhlamini, an employee at Kempton Park Golf Club, took her child to work where she fell in love with the sport of golf.
“I was worried about her safety while I went to work, so I decided to take her to the club and during that time she started playing with other kids,” said Linaht.
Tokollo, who is still a learner at Endulweni Primary School, has won several certificates and medals.
“I am grateful to Greg Kruger, a member of Kempton Park Golf Club who sponsored Tokollo’s trip to Malaysia to participate in a world tournament.”
Serongoane said they let her prioritise her schoolwork because school has to come first.
The Tembisa Golf Club development programme was initiated by the club’s executive committee in 2012, where Tokollo started her journey.
“The aim of the programme is to take kids off the streets, away from drugs and violence and educate them in sport,” said Serongoane.
“We use the grounds at Kempton Park Golf Club and that is where we do our training sessions with Tokollo,” he explained.
Today I had the pleasure of meeting Tokollo Dhlamini from Kempton Park. She’s 12 and a budding golfer who has her sights set on a career in medicine. A keen competitor who has inspired me greatly with her skill and a passion for her books - in her I’ve found a doctor and coach. pic.twitter.com/OsWuNsJRdF
— Cyril Ramaphosa 🇿🇦 (@CyrilRamaphosa) February 8, 2019
Organising secretary Benjamin Monyanyedi called on parents to encourage their children of all ages to take up golf as a serious sport.
“We appreciate individuals and organisations putting effort into helping our kids to grow within the sport,” said Monyanyedi.“We must also applaud people like Frans Molepo and Harry Mthembu for the foundation they created for youngsters, one of them being Lebo Makume, another young golfer from Tembisa.”
Linaht said her daughter would like to become a professional golfer one day and succeed in training others in the sport.
