Ndwedwe teacher offers hope by training underprivileged kids in athletics

A Ndwedwe primary school teacher is nurturing the athletic talent of underprivileged children, training them with the hope of providing a way out of poverty.

Cebolenkosi Maphumulo returned to his birthplace from the Eastern Cape and has been a teacher at Chibini Primary School since 2010.

As a young teacher he was asked by his seniors to head up the sport department. Initially, he formed soccer and netball teams at the school, but he also wanted to introduce the rural children to other sport codes unfamiliar to them.

“So I introduced basketball and rugby, but soon noticed that many of the children were actually very good at athletics.” Realising most of the pupils I trained stopped after finishing matric and had nowhere to go, I decided in 2019 to start the Thandolwethu Athletics Club with the hope of introducing them to track and field and cross-country,” said Maphumulo.

The youngsters responded with enthusiasm and have since competed in different school competitions across the province, gaining selection in the different age categories for the iLembe teams and also performing well during the SALGA Games.

Recently he and his group participated in the Balwin Property Marathon in Durban, and Maphumulo was super proud of the results they achieved.

Fourteen-year-old Amahle Dlamini finished seventh overall in the 10km race, in a blistering time of 48:00.

Other club members who performed well were Aphelele Thabethe, Andiswa Shabalala, and Ntando and Ntuthuko Maphumulo.

While they were running in the marathon, club team-mate Luthando Magubane was representing KZN at the national high school athletics championships in Johannesburg.

“As much as running the club is difficult, results like these give one hope that someday some of the youngsters will be able to make a living out of the sport. We just need to keep on guiding and encouraging them,” said Maphumulo.

The club currently boasts 127 members, most of whom are schoolchildren.

“We have a vision to have at least half of the children competing in major races around the country by 2025. Most of them will be 15 and 17 years old by then.”

Finances remain a challenge though. Some parents do help but Maphumulo often finds himself sponsoring talented and dedicated athletes out of his pocket.

If you would like to help, call him at 073 666 8441.

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