The mayor of Ngaka Modiri Molema District municipality in the North West, Khumalo Molefe, has encouraged athletes and artists to balance their talent with education.
Molefe said this during the meeting with the North West based Vrisgewacht Wild Cats Jump Rope team ahead of its Virtual World Double Dutch Championship competition that will be held on Friday.
The team will compete against 14 countries, including the Republic of Korea, the United States, and Canada.
Molefe said it’s important for sports athletes and artists to have education as a backup plan for their future.
“We have, unfortunately, in the country produced many stars who did very well on national and international levels. But today, when we look at them, they represent a shadow of their former self. We don’t want that to happen with our young ones coming after them. And that is why we are advising them, they must also excel academically,” Molefe said.
The team’s coach, Mpho Seate, believes his team will do well. “Having kids from rural areas, there is quite a lot of hunger in them. They are hungry for success, and they work hard and put more effort towards reaching every goal they would like to reach,” Seate said.
The team’s captain Diteko Matlape said the competition presents a once in a lifetime opportunity.
“This is the opportunity that we have been praying for. We will use it because we know our capabilities, and we are confident that we will win. We have the passion for it and believe we will come out victorious,” said Matlape.
Johannesburg will host the tournament in preparation for the next world championships in the United States.
