Smit siblings to represent province in wrestling
Wrestling runs in the family where the Smits are concerned with father and sons involved in the sport.
Brothers Johny and Neels Smit have been selected to represent Mpumalanga at the South African Cadet Championships taking place in Brakpan, Gauteng over the next two days.
The brothers hail from Nelspruit Wrestling Club and will participate in the freestyle and Greco-Roman categories respectively.
Sixteen-year-old Johny will compete today and Neels, who is a year older, tomorrow.
Johny tasted wrestling success in 2015 when he was selected for the SA Cadet team which travelled to Egypt for the African Championships. The boys’ father, Neels Snr, said he is very proud of what both his sons had achieved. He is a wrestler himself and coaches the sport. He hopes that the sport will continue to grow in the Lowveld.
Nelspruit Wrestling Club train at Mbombela Stadium. Until recently there were no female wrestlers. Three young girls have since joined the club.
Vinette Mathane has two children who are members to the club, Shiloh and Basie.
“It is such a wonderful sport as it teaches that discipline and fitness are very important,” she said.
To see the other Nelspruit Wrestling Club members in action, see the gallery below.
