KwaThema athlete helps young child
KwaThema - Local athlete Charles 'Payoyo' Vilakazi (56) is helping groom a young local sprinter from Reedville, Noluvo Fakude (9).
Vilakazi discovered the young girl through her father and has been impressed with her performance over the past six months.
“The girl is a natural sprinter who excels in the 800m and 1 500m, however put her on the road and she can also perform in the 5km and 10km races.
“And as a Comrades and Two Oceans Marathon runner, when her father asked me to help her, I could not say no seeing how talented she is,” he says.
In addition to sessions with Vilakazi, during the week Fakude also trains with 52-year-old Elizabeth Ntozini.
Vilakazi says seeing someone so young with so much talent is breathtaking, however the only challenge the girl is faced with, is the lack of proper training gear.
“Though she is talented, this Grade Three learner still needs the necessary essentials to help enhance her skill.
“But since both her parents are unemployed, and these things tend to be expensive, as a community we need to support this young girl,” he encourages.
Fakude is currently preparing for two upcoming local races which she will be participating in and says she is excited about this.
“I only started running the 100m last year, at Theo Twala Primary School and have enjoyed it since then.
“All I want to do now, is to keep on improving and to become a star one day,” she says.
