Raptors hope to keep their doors open
Raptors Wrestling Club hope to survive Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown.
Hard work and dedication are what the wrestlers from Raptors Wrestling Club pride themselves on.
The club has been training wrestlers for almost 60 years.
The club, found on the corner of Oak and Quince streets in Primrose East, prides itself on teaching its students about etiquette, self-control, concentration, hand-eye coordination and discipline through a fun and safe environment.
Before the Covid-19 pandemic brought an abrupt halt to the sporting world, the club’s young wrestlers had showcased their skills at four tournaments since the start of the new season, bringing home 28 gold medals and 53 silver and bronze medals.
ALSO READ: Young wrestlers hone their skills
“Our club’s membership had also grown before the lockdown,” said head coach Dewald de Wet (Snr).
“We were looking forward to the President’s South African Tournament which was meant to be held in Cape Town on March 26 and 27.
“Our team was ready and had been hard at work preparing, we did not even break for the December holidays.
“Instead, we focused on their preparation and training, and we were sure this hard work would pay off and we would bring home medals.”
The club’s double u-13 Greco-Roman SA champion had an American tour lined up for this year, which also seems to be off the cards.
“Dewald de Wet (Jnr) would have travelled to Pennsylvania in the United States of America in July to participate in the Ken Chertow Gold Medal Training Camp.
“This would have been a real breakthrough year for us,” said de Wet (Snr).
De Wet (Snr) explained that the true toll the Covid-19 pandemic has taken on the club is not measureable yet.
“I am not sure if the club can be saved,” said de Wet (Snr).
“I tried doing online lessons, but these were stopped.
“Contrary to popular belief, this is a team sport, so it’s very close to impossible to train effectively without your team.
“Also, children do not want to train to wrestle they want to wrestle.
“I am not positive that many will come back should this lockdown continue further than June because they lose interest very quickly.”
ALSO READ: Young wrestlers bring home medals
De Wet hopes the club will survive and keep its doors open.
His message of hope for sportsmen and wrestlers who are missing the sport is to face each day as it comes.
“Get up early and face the day,” he said.
“One day at a time, and try to stay mentally and physically fit.
“Stay away from cyberspace as much as possible, as it can be a fake and dangerous world.”
For more information on the club, call de Wet (Snr) on 083 611 7169, send an email to raptorswrestlingsa@gmail.com or visit the club’s Facebook page by searching Raptors Wrestling.
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Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za
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