Westonaria karate students shine
Gerrit Maritz Primary pupil, Hein de Beer, shows his karate skill at the Karate South Africa National Championships.
Hein De Beer represented the Gauteng Karate Federation at the Karate South Africa National Championships in Bloemfontein, after winning a silver medal at Provincial Championships held in the Wits University.
The Grade 4 pupil from Gerrit Maritz Primary who trains at the Westonaria Sports Hall has made his town and karate instructor proud.
According to one of Hein’s instructors, Kruben Pillay, he put up an impressive performance but was narrowly beaten in the quarter final.
“Hein started karate at a very young age and took part at Regional, Provincial and National tournaments thus far. His hard work and consistent endurance in training is slowly paying off with him getting closer to a National title,” says Kruben.
Kruben adds that the true champion in Hein is slowly arriving and as he moves up into the cadet ranks, he will be very hard to beat in competition Karate.
According to Hein, he loves karate so much because it teaches him never to give up in life, because although you may fail the first time you get back up and try again and in the end you will see the benefits of your hard work.
“It also teaches me discipline and respect. I am now very confident of myself,” says Hein.
Enzo Pillay, a Karate Protea and son of Sensei Kruben Pillay, brought home a silver medal from the National Championships held in Bloemfontein on 30 January.
Enzo will be available for selection of the Africa Youth Games in Gaborone later this year. He has also won a Zone 6 silver medal in Namibia and a Common Wealth Silver in Canada during the 2013 season late last year.
He proudly says that he will not rest until he achieves a karate gold medal at a World Championship event.
Sensei Kruben Pillay teaches karate at the Westonaria Sports Hall.
For more information contact Nisha Pillay on 072 838 7528.
