Disabled athletes shine at championships
Members of the KwaThema Disabled Club recently participated in the National Championships for the Physically Disabled at the University of Johannesburg.
Seven players from the club’s soccer team represented Gauteng at the championships.
The team’s coach, Aubrey Mathibela, explains the team won the first match against Western Province.
They also faced Western Province in the finals, and beat them 6-3.
Mathibela is thankful to the Gauteng Department of Sports and Recreation for transporting the players to the championships, as well as to the players’ parents for all their support.
He adds that the club has new sporting codes, which include swimming, rowing and cycling.
Other athletes from the club also excelled at the championships.
Gold medals were won by Bongani Mgidi (200m, 400m and long jump), Tshepang Juperd (100m, 200m and long jump), Zandile Nthlapho (shot put and javelin), and Tshepo Bhebe (200m and 400m).
Juperd set new South African records in both his races.
Bhebe says his main goal is to qualify for the 2016 Paralympics Games, which will be held in Rio, Brazil.
According to the club’s athletics coach, Ntombi Zwane, the athletes performed very well this year.
He adds he hopes the athletes will be selected for the Paralympics.
