Matthew kicks for gold
Ecstatic at having brought a gold medal home, Matthew said his victory was but one of the highlights of the convention.
Standing in the centre of a stadium amid thousands of cheering spectators, Matthew Ewart takes aim, kicks and scores.
Matthew recently participated in the International Student Convention at the University of Central Missouri, in Warrensburg, United States.
He described the trip as an opportunity of a lifetime.
“It was a life changing experience. I met people from places like Russia, Spain, and Mexico, and had the chance to learn more about other cultures.”
Matthew qualified to attend the international convention, after he competed in the All Africa Convention last October.
At the All Africa Convention, he showed a natural aptitude in the soccer-kick category.
“The soccer-kick is when you stand 10 metres away from the goal posts and kick the ball in. The ball is not allowed to bounce before the goal line, and every time you score, you step back an extra five metres,” Matthew explained.
He tied for first place, kicking the ball a staggering 45 metres away from the goal posts at the All Africa Convention.
At the convention in the United States, his natural ability saw him rise above his competitors.
“There were 2 760 people who entered the event, and 65 of them were for the soccer-kick division. I managed to win the event by scoring 45 metres away from the goal posts, after my last two opponents fell away at 30 metres.”
Having conquered his opponents, securing first place at an international level and having a gold medal to his name, Matthew said it was not as easy as some would think.
“The competition was tough, the weather was not ideal, as it was very windy – and I was nervous.”
Ecstatic at having brought a gold medal home, Matthew said his victory was but one of the highlights of the convention.
“When I got there, I decided to try out for the 100 metre dash. I took part in the qualifier and then the main event.”
He placed fourth in the 100 metres, after completing the sprint in a time of 11.49 seconds.
“It was awesome going for the soccer-kick, and then taking a fourth place in the 100 metre dash as well,” he beamed.
Matthew said he would not have the opportunity without the help of the community.
“A big thank you must go to the Newcastle community for making the trip possible, and for all their support.”
Set to matriculate next year from Aletheia Christian College, he hopes to qualify again for the 2017 International Student Convention.
“I want to end my school career with a bang, and I am hoping to bring another gold medal back to Newcastle, South Africa and my school.”
Once his school career is complete, Matthew intends to possibly pursue a career in soccer.
“I want to get into a soccer academy and maybe move to America or the United Kingdom, and ultimately play for one of their clubs,” he concluded.
