Teen Boccia Champ competes overseas
“The sport will always be a big part of my life and no one can take that from me,” said 21-year-old Liakath Aziz who will be flying the South African flag on high at the 2013 Boccia Americas Cup tournament in Kansas City, USA.
Currently the SA Champion in the BC2 category, Liakath has represented the Gauteng Province since 2006 when he started with the sport and hasn’t looked back since. He was chosen as a representative after he won a gold medal in the Singles Category while still a learner at Francis Vorwerg School.
“I’ve been with the province for the past eight years and have won six gold medals in the singles events and I have been captaining the team since the time I started Boccia. I always try to make sure that we do our best at all times. I don’t allow losses to get me down because I know that I cannot be a winner all the time. I believe that watching someone else win and letting them experience the joy of winning makes me a winner”.
The official announcement of his upcoming trip for the Cup Tournament came in March this year as he was on stage at the SASAPD (South African Sports Association for Physically Disabled) ceremony to receive a gold medal in the Singles category and a silver medal for his part in the team event.
Proud mother Fatima Aziz says that Liakath foresaw his future on a plane to the Ireland World Championships, when he turned to her and said that this trip would be the first of many; boy was he right.
“My husband and I feel very excited and very proud. We really support him,” beamed Fatima.
His coach and team mates are also excited for him, it’s reported that their excitement after hearing the news had them dancing in their wheel chairs. Promoting good sportsmanship is a high priority for this champion captain who travels around the country every year competing in the Nedbank Challenge sports events.
Participation in this tournament is of great importance as it will allow us entry into the Boccia World Championships in 2014 and Boccia World Cup in 2015 with the hope that we attain rankings that will provide an opportunity for qualification to participate in the paralympics said an SASAPD National Boccia Convener, Nishla Maharaj in a statement. Part of the cost for each person, including entries, travel, accommodation, visas is funded by South African Sports Association For the Physically Disabled and Nedbank.
That money unfortunately does not include the travelling and accommodation costs of the family, but Fatima and her husband always try to raise funds by selling food at events as well as through sponsoring from supportive friends and family.
Two other South African representatives from East London and KwaZulu Natal will also be joining Liakath at the Cup tournament.
