NEW Forest High School’s volleyball aces, Theron Naidoo and Kaelyn Mahendranath, both 16, have been selected for the KZN U18 volleyball team.
Both players started playing volleyball in grade eight and have been inseparable ever since.
Theron, who captains his school’s team, said he was overwhelmed during the first round of trials as it was his and Kaelyn’s first time trying out. “Trials were not what I expected. There were a lot of older people and it felt like we were in the big leagues,” said Theron. “When our names were called out for the KZN team, I was shocked. Kaelyn and I didn’t expect to make it. Although, making the team is a validation of the hard work we have put in since grade eight.”
Theron, who also captains the first team cricket side, hopes to one day play for South Africa and make it to the biggest stage of all, the Olympics.
Kaelyn, who is the vice-captain of the school’s team said: “Being at trials was nerve-wracking. We saw the people we were going to play against and became demotivated. As the day went on, we gained courage.”
“It is an honour to have made the team. When I looked at some of the people we played against, some were so tall we only reached their shoulders.” He also hopes to one day don the green and gold colours of our country. Through volleyball, Kaelyn also hopes to attain a scholarship so he can study further after school.
Proving they are not one-trick ponies, Theron and Kaelyn also play cricket and hockey, while Kaelyn adds athletics to his list of sports.
Both boys are proud of their achievement and look forward to the inter-provincial tournament where they will go up against the players in the country in their age category. They thank their parents for their support and putting up with the late nights and their coach, who has been with them since they started playing.
