Youngster shows what hard work can achieve

Hopewell Nkosi is proof that hard work, perseverance, the right support and a little bit of luck are what’s needed to succeed.

He has been nothing short of being sensational throughout the cross-country season, winning all five of his races, including the inter-district individual championships.

Now that the school season is over, he will be running in club meetings for Soweto’s Boxer Club.

Nksosi attends Jeppe High School for Boys on a Theo Jackson Scholarship.

“Both my parents died, so my grandmother has brought me up,” he said.

“I lived with my sister in Germiston and went to Dinwiddie Primary School where the principal and teachers saw that I was a good athlete. They helped me to apply for a scholarship to come to Jeppe and luckily I got it,” said Nkosi.

“I trained hard for cross-country and I’m looking forward to the next athletics season so I can work at that too,” he said.

Earlier this year, he came fourth in the 3 000 metre event at the Gauteng track athletics championships, narrowly missing out on going to the SA Champs.

Nkosi’s grandmother was a keen runner when she was young, but never had the opportunity to compete at a competitive level.

“She is happy that I am achieving the dreams that she never had the chance to achieve. That motivates me more than anything else. I’m going to carry on working hard and hopefully winning races, to show my thanks to her, and to everyone else who has been supporting me,” said Nkosi.