He started sports in Grade 1 with athletics at Panorama Primary School in Weltevredenpark and Jayden Hoskins from Bosmont has never slowed down.
The eleven-year-old then went from sprints to hurdles and now plays soccer, cricket, golf, chess, and broke 2 records in the long jump division last year. “Golf is my favourite sport, nothing beats that.”
Hoskins plays for the South African Golfing Development Board (SAGDB) on the Central Gauteng.
“The thing that’s nice about golf is that you get to socialise with other people, you make new friends, and its good exercise as well,” said Hoskins.
He said that his favourite professional golfer is Jordan Spieth from America and last year he had the opportunity to meet Rory Mcilroy, the second-best golf player in the world.
Hoskins was accidentally hit with Mcilroy’s golf ball on his leg and as an apology, the golf champion signed his glove and gave it to Hoskins.
The young sports star started golf at the age of 4 years old with plastic clubs, today he trains with Paul van Zyl who trains other youngsters as well at the Maraisburg Golfing Range.
And when it comes to keeping the grades up, Hoskins said: “my mum shouts at me because I normally would just read through my books then I’m done but then she does it totally differently. She will read it and then put the paper down and the asks me questions.
This happens every day during exams. Grades always come first. School first and sports second.” The overachiever obtained an average of 87% last year in Grade 4.
“I told Jayden that he has had an amazing year last year for any kid his age. He was the captain of the soccer team, the captain of the cricket team, he excelled in chess, took first place in the Top 10 of his school,” said mum, Ronelle Hoskins.
Hoskins has received a scholarship at Curro Aurora from Grade 5 until Grade 12.
According to his mother, Ronelle, the school fees are for Grade 5 alone is R60 000 per year and it increases as per Grade. The scholarship is worth about R700 000 and it is an academic and golf scholarship.
Ronelle told her son that no one remembers the second place and that it is about being consistent with these achievements. Hoskins has started with his scholarship on January 17 and works towards only achieving more.
