Karate kid strikes the right moves
The lad started his karate training at seven-years-old while he was still in Grade 2.
TEN-year-old Devante Nero is making a name for himself in karate, just three years after taking up the sport.
The Grade 5 Gardenia Primary School learner is so focused on his sport of choice that he is making a steady climb to the top and has been selected to represent the country in the United Kingdom.
“Devante will represent South Africa in the UK in October for the World Martial Arts Championships. He has come a long way with karate, but being a single mother with another son who is eight-years-old, who is also an avid karateka, I am trying my best to afford the R40 000 Devante needs for the trip,” said proud mom, Tasmyn Nero.
The lad started his karate training at seven-years-old while he was still in Grade 2.
Jackie Chan movies and the Karate Kid are just a few of his favourite movies.
His uncle was also involved in karate and it’s said he was a very good karateka, which keeps the 10-year-old encouraged.
Tasmyn said she joined a kickboxing club in support of their sport. “I want them to know that I encourage them to be more active,” she said.
“It’s hard being a single mom because I work every day, sometimes from 7am to 7pm to provide for him and his brother. We live with eight other family members in a single bedroom house. He used to get bullied by other children in the community. The area in which we reside is very unhealthy, there are a lot of fights and drugs going on. My friend’s son started karate, so that encouraged him to be more disciplined and to stay off the streets,” Tasmyn added.
Devante represented KZN in Johannesburg in June last year and was then chosen to participate in Cape Town in September for the world championships. He received awards in December for best athlete development and now awaits for the Covid-19 clearance to learn of his UK trip scheduled for October this year.
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