Duo swing their way to gold
Local resident, Derrick Pillay and partner win gold at the World Transplant Games in the golf pairs.
WHEN the Springboks lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in front of a packed house at Ellis Park Stadium, few could’ve picked out their family members amongst the crowd. But for local athlete, Derrick Pillay, who clinched gold and bronze at the World Transplant Games, all he could see at the medal ceremony were his family’s beaming faces. Pillay won gold in the team golf event (stableford) and bronze in the singles competition. This was his third appearance at the WTG and by far his most special.
“I was tied for third in Australia in 2009, but lost on the count out so to go one better and win gold in front of family and friends is fantastic,” he said. Pillay, who plays his golf at the Mt Edgecombe Golf Course paired up with Johannesburg resident, Johnny Pereira da Silva in the team event.
“I’d never played with Johnny before but we were confident in each others abilities and that showed on the greens. We both felt we lost it at the last three holes and I must admit, a bit disappointed as we made our way back to the club house. We thought we’d blown our chance but when they announced our names as gold medal we both sort of looked at each other in shock before the elation took over,” he said.
Da Silver, from Honeydew said though he was nervous, Pillay’s experience helped keep him calm and focused. “I was absolutely delighted to win gold in my very first games. I couldn’t sleep that night with all the excitement and adrenaline flowing through my body,” he said.
