Wrestlers inspire in Glasgow – bring back bronze

Mpho Madi (26) was one of those South Africans who contributed to Team South Africa’s total haul of 40 medals at the XX Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland.

The wrestler won a women’s 53kg freestyle wrestling bronze medal on Wednesday, July 30, and told the City Times this week that she was “feeling very famous” with all the media interest around her at the moment.

Madi is a product of Kids Haven, in Benoni, where she spent eight years of her life.

She met her foster mother, Amanda van der Watt, through wrestling in 2009 and has stayed with her since the age of 20.

The 2007 Ekurhuleni Sportswoman of the Year, who now wrestles out of Boksburg Wrestling Club, said the Commonwealth Games were awesome and that the people in Scotland are extremely friendly.

“I just wanted to make my people proud and win a medal,” she said.

“I obviously wanted to win a gold medal, but I am happy with a bronze.”

She encouraged youngsters from similar backgrounds to use the opportunities that present themselves, as they only come around once in a lifetime.

She thanked Moira Simpson, director of Kids Haven, for inspiring her, as well as Hansie Naudé, her first coach at the Benoni Wrestling Club.

Madi, however, was not the only wrestler at the Games who grew up at Kids Haven.

Bokang Masunyane (19) also flew the South African flag at the games and was also fostered by a family within the wrestling fraternity in 2009.

He was admitted to Kids Haven at the age of six years and also came up through the ranks with the Benoni Wrestling Club.

Masunyane competed in the men’s 57kg freestyle wrestling quarter-finals, but lost to India’s Amit Kumar, who would later go on to win gold.

Moira Simpson was over the moon with the performances of the two former Kids Haven children.

“Although Mpho is grown up now and has done so well, she never forgets Kids Haven and still regards it as her home and the children as her family,” she said.

“She always comes back to visit and remains a humble person who is willing to help others.”

With regards to Masunyane, Simpson said: “As a child Bokang was different from the start.

“He was always a pleasant, helpful child with a huge smile on his face and a good heart.

“He was always quiet, followed the rules, and was a hard worker.

Simpson added that when children come from troubled backgrounds they do not always make the most of the opportunities given to them, and the hurt and pain cloud their ability to change.

“Bokang never let his background break him down, instead it became his motivation to succeed,” she said.

Simpson said that Kids Haven’s programmes are aimed at giving children the opportunity to become the best they can be.

“Today Mpho and Bokang are role models to our other children,” she added.

Hietbrink basks in bronze

Mpho Madi is not the only Benoni wrestler to have won a bronze medal at the XX Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow, Scotland.

Her teammate, Armando Hietbrink (23), also brought home a bronze medal after placing third overall in the men’s 86kg freestyle category.

He pinned Kenya’s Peter Onyango Omenda in just 42 seconds, in the bronze final.

The Rynfield resident and former Hoërskool Hans Moore pupil said he was overwhelmed by the fact that he had won a medal and described being a member of Team South Africa at the Games as “unbelievable”.

The former Benoni Wrestling Club wrestler has been involved in the sport since the age of 15 years, and is now wrestling out of Boksburg Wrestling Club.

“It was exciting being at the Commonwealth Games and an incredible experience,” he said.

“I never thought that something like this would happen.

“I am extremely proud.”

He thanked his coach Nico Coetzee, his teammates, family and friends for their support.