Drummies dreams realised
MOWAT Park High School matriculant, Emihle Lolita Mafanya achieved senior drum majorette colours at the SA Majorettes and Cheerleading Association (SAMCA) national colours trials in Pietermaritzburg in December.
“The competition was hard. Being in Pietermaritzburg for five days during the summer on an open field for six hours a day killed me. One challenge I thought I would not conquer was the language barrier. Being instructed in Afrikaans was difficult. Beyond everything, I made lots of friends and I enjoyed the whole experience, but it is not something I would do again,” she said.
As a sub-leader of the team, Emihle has competed on the national stage twice.
The teen was introduced to drummies in grade 2 at Woodlands Primary School. “At first I thought I would not take it seriously, but as the skill of the sport became second nature to me, I discovered a passion for it in grade 6.”
One of Emihle’s dream is to train a primary school drummie team.
In June 2013, she participated in the SAMCA championships where her team placed third in the large drill squad in the elite category. She is also looking forward to the SA champs of champs in September, which takes place in Cape Town.
In 2015 she plans to study broadcast meteorology at the University of Pretoria.”I cannot wait to explore my passion for geography and television presenting. Through drummies, I have realised dreams do come true. It is the ultimate test of commitment. If you can get through drummies, you can get through anything.”
