Robbie athletes about to accelerate even more
Vuyo is excited to join teammate Nlanhla to compete against the best of Africa.
Both Nhlanhla Maseko and Vuyo Ndhlovu from Rob Ferreira High School have been included in the national youth team that will represent South Africa at the Africa Youth and Junior Championships next week in Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
While sprinting down the track comes naturally for Nhalanhla, the current flurry of excitement has caught him a bit off guard. Even his success on the track lately has come as a surprise to him.
“At Sabie Primary School, and later at Sybrand van Niekerk High School, I tried my best, but there was always somebody better than me,” he laughed.
It was only last year, when he came to Rob Ferreira High School for his grade 11 year, that “Mr Potential”, as the athletes jokingly call the schools athletics trainer, Stefan van der Merwe, noticed Nhlanhla’s potential and started working on it. “Mr van der Merwe is amazing. He always sees potential in everybody and we can’t help but just give our best to him.”
That “best” includes working out in the gymnasium every morning between 04:30 and 05:30 before a quick shower, breakfast and a few hours of school. After school, more of the same follows.
Last year Nhlanhla also played rugby for Robbies, but this year he is concentrating only on his running. This paid off, since at the recent South African Championships he has been selected for South Africa and will compete internationally twice within the next few months.
He will also participate in the Southern Region Countries Championship in the 200 metres and 400 metres in Boksburg. After that he will travel to Ivory Coast, where he will run the 400 metre race for his country. Nhanhla was also invited to join the SA senior championship in the 400-metres, where he might even face Wade van Niekerk.
He is currently ranked 14th on the IAAF world youth rankings in the 400 metres.
Since his visit to Ivory Coast will be his first out of the country, he is noticeably excited. “I look forward to it very much, and am very grateful because not everyone gets such an opportunity,” he said. “I feel very privileged to represent my country.”
Vuyo is a grade 11 learner.
He represented Mpumalanga at the recent South African Schools Athletics Championship and obtained a silver medal in the 100-metre final for boys u/18. His personal best in this event is 10,25 seconds. He also participated in the Athletics South Africa (ASA) Youth Championship in Paarl.
Vuyo will be part of the 4×100-metre relay team.
Vuyo is excited to join teammate Nlanhla to compete against the best of Africa. After missing out on the national title in the
100 metres by 0,04 seconds at the recent SA Schools Championship, the disappointment has now been replaced with joy and excitement.
“It is a dream that will come true and I am very blessed with the opportunity,” he said. “The support system and our athletics department at the school made it all possible. We love sprinting and relays at our school, and we are going for gold at the championship.”
The entire Rob Ferreira family expressed their pride in the two athletes.
Vuyo also competes in the 200-metre and 400-metre events, and set a new 400-metre record at the Interhigh meeting.
“Vuyo is the complete package when it comes to sprinting, and we believe he and Nlanhla will have a bright future in athletics,” coach Stefan van der Merwe said.
