Malalo found passion and power in sports
Through the highs and lows, victories, and defeats, Malalo Silima discovers her true passion in sports.
![Mulalo Silima.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/WhatsAppImage2024_28460-e1715156872456.jpg)
Mulalo Silima, co-mayor of the JHB Junior Council writes:
I am passionate about sports and find solace on the court when playing netball, on the field when playing soccer, on the water when rowing, and on the track when running. I have faced some tough times during my high school career, but when I play sports, it seems that all my worries fade away.
Read more: Keeping healthy with soccer
![Mulalo Silima playing soccer](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/WhatsAppImage2024_32033-e1715157289435.jpg)
Sports has become my escape, my way to express myself and build confidence. Through my dedication and hard work, I have become a key player on the respective teams of my various sports. The friendships I have formed with my teammates embody one of a sisterhood, always pushing each other to do better.
As I continue to strive for excellence in my various sporting activities, I have begun to realise the impact sport has on my life. It teaches me discipline, valuable teamwork skills, and resilience. I have learned how to handle both victories and defeats with grace, and how to bounce back from setbacks.
![Mulalo Silima aims to score, for netball](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/WhatsAppImage2024_93971-e1715157204496.jpg)
However, the impact of sports goes beyond just playing the sports for me. It gives me a sense of purpose and direction. Through my love for netball, athletics, rowing, and soccer I have decided to apply to study Bachelor of Commerce in Econometrics at the University of Pretoria, a university that has an excellent sporting programme and facilities that would allow me to continue with netball, the sport I enjoy and excel in most.
Also read: Learner hopes schools will introduce soccer as a sport
![Mulalo Silima.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/WhatsAppImage2024_28669-e1715157166786.jpg)
I do not want my sporting days to be a thing of the past or something I simply ‘used to do’. Sports is a part of my identity, woven into my DNA and that is something I never want to let go of. Sports can truly have a profound impact on someone’s life. It can shape their character, provide a sense of belonging, and even inspire important decisions that pave the way to their future. In my case, it has led me to develop a new motto for the next two years: “Tuks of niks”.
![Mulalo Silima rowing.](https://images.caxton.co.za/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2024/04/WhatsAppImage2024_48515-e1715157118954.jpg)
I will dedicate the remainder of this year to working incredibly hard in my academics to achieve marks that secure me a spot at the university I have become fixated on. It will not be a walk in the park but it is a journey I am willing to make.
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