Junior sets track and field alight
Injuries are just part of the game when you are an athlete. Muscle tears, broken bones and concussions can rob all-stars of the rest of their careers or sideline them for seasons to come, devastating both the athlete and their loyal fans.
But every now and then, you have an athlete who comes back from a potentially career-ending injury or a major illness and goes on to achieve greatness.
Last year October, Hoërskool Rob Ferreira’s Junior Mondlane contracted malaria.
He was admitted to the intensive care unit. After a couple of days, the doctors told his mom, Gugu, that it was unlikely that Junior would get better.
“The doctors told me that whatever I believe in, I should focus on that. There was nothing I could do for my son. It was out of my hands,” said Gugu, who is still emotional when asked about his hospitalisation.
During an interview with Lowvelder, Junior said his recovery would not have been possible without God.
“I lost a lot of weight. I kind of got a second chance, and it motivated me to turn my hand to anything.”
On Saturday at the Kenneth McArthur Stadium at the Sub-Youth Interprovincials in Potchefstroom, Junior became Robbies’ first South African title-holder in the triple jump for boys u/15.
His distance of 13,25 metres is a personal best, and worth 1 006 points on the ABSA table.
At this year’s Mediclinic Nelspruit Interhigh, Junior opened his campaign in fine style, earning convincing victories in both the long jump, 300-metre hurdles and 100 metres.
Junior had his sights set on the long jump event, with the hopes of breaking a 34-year-old record of 6,46 metres. He missed the distance by just 0,2 metres.
In Potchefstroom he earned the silver medal with a distance of 6,42 metres. His personal best in the item is 6,9 metres.
Junior took the runners-up spot in the long-jump event during the South African High School Championships with a distance of 6,63 metres. The 15-year-old’s effort of 13,26 metres in triple jump was good enough for bronze.
“I know that next year will be even tougher (the South African High School Champs includes u/15, u/17 and u/19 age groups). I will be compete in an older age group, but if I train hard I will be able to be a competitive force.”
Junior was awarded the trophy for highest achievement as an individual athlete during Robbie’s awards evening.
Junior is on his way to France. He was selected to join the team after the annual Danie Rossouw Rugby Week.
He played for the Pumas u/15 at the Rhino Week over the July holidays and is part of the training squad for next year’s u/16 Grant Khomo Week, which will be held at Hoërskool Rob Ferreira.
