West Rand School trio win gold in Stellenbosch
A group of young para-athletes from West Rand School turned dedication into gold as they made their mark on the national stage at the SASAPD Paralympics in Stellenbosch.
Three learners from West Rand School in Wentworth Park recently competed at the South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled (SASAPD) Paralympics held in Stellenbosch, where they were awarded medals in recognition of their hard work, dedication and skill in their respective sporting codes.
The three learners, Katlego Motshepe, Wanga Ramashia and Steven Joubert, excelled in events including javelin, shot put, discus and CP football, and each of them earned gold medals for their performances.
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According to the official SASAPD website, CP football is a version of soccer adapted for athletes who are able to walk but have Cerebral Palsy (CP) or have suffered an acquired brain injury.
As explained by the coaches of the learners, Michelle and Johan van der Schyff, SASAPD is an organisation that supports and develops key sporting codes for para-athletes. Its aim is to nurture talent from grassroots level through to Paralympic level. The organisation includes a wide range of sports in its national championships and high-performance programmes, such as para-athletics, para-swimming, wheelchair basketball, Boccia, CP football, para-cycling, goalball, para-judo, as well as field events such as javelin, shot put, and discus. SASAPD also hosts the annual Toyota National Championships, which serve as a major platform for identifying potential Paralympic athletes.
Michelle added that the competition also served as preparation for the Paralympic Games, an elite international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities, which is scheduled for 2028.
“We are striving toward making this event a reality for all our para-athletes,” she said.
She further explained that athletes are prepared through the use of innovative, world-first equipment combined with the organisation’s Loopit™ system, with a strong focus on strength and conditioning exercises tailored specifically to each athlete’s sporting code, abilities and capabilities.
With the learners showing strong dedication in their sports, the coaches have appealed to the community to assist and support the athletes through sponsorships so that they can achieve their Paralympic dreams.
Those wishing to contribute or get involved can contact Michelle on 083 729 2515.
