Cape Town - Local youth made their country proud after they represented South Africa at the African Youth Championships in Tunisia.
The tournaments took place last week and the Western Cape squad included, Moegamatnur Van Dyk, Kian Chapman, Anande Kuse, Kiara Naidoo, Rochica Sonday, and Liam Beukes. They hailed from Lavender Hill, Mitchells Plain, Khayelitsha and the University of Cape Town.
Parents said they were proud because “some good has come out of Lavender Hill, not just drugs and gangsterism”.
Some of the players who participated in the tournament will also represent the Western Cape in Durban in October.
The team includes Rewaldo Carolus, Nashwin Pienaar, Kian Chapman, and Tazlyn Pietersen.
The children are expected to arrive back in South Africa today.
According to the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF), they have waited three years for the tournament to resume.
Kian Chapman’s mother Mabaleen said their family had always had a passion for the sport and dedication.
She added that the children selected to represent Western Province had the challenge of having to raise thousands of rand.
“Our children from Lavender Hill have now qualified again for the SA trials together with an additional seven to eight other children to be hosted in Durban in October at R5 000 per child, and we are really seeking donations and sponsorships,” she said.
“My sister Sidonia Chapman and her son Sirano Gordon also played for Western Province before Covid-19. My brother, Clement Chapman, made the Western Province team during his high school career. It is a sport that this family loves.
“My son did not have a blade for this tournament and one of my friend’s Celeste Nomdo, who also played in the SA team in previous years, sponsored him with one to use for the tournament.”
Chapman added that the sport created a safe space for children away from the violence in the streets, and that they were extremely proud.
“When Shiloh Top Spinners began, it was a safe haven for the children, they would go and play and they would be signed up for different tournaments and began representing Cape Town and then South Africa.
“Lavender Hill, it is a proud moment for us as a community. They need proper blades, which can cost you over R1 500, shoes and tracksuits. Parents try to make ends meet by selling rotis to sustain their sports career when they play locally.”
Chapman said her son was a dedicated sportsman since the age of nine.
“He is very driven in sport, and music-oriented. He started playing table tennis at the local civic centre in Lavender Hill at the age of nine, and he grew to love the sport.
“He represented Cape Town in Bloemfontein last year, and won that tournament. This year he went on to play in Johannesburg and was selected to represent the South African team playing for the under 15 cadets in Tunisia.
“He also took up netball recently, which he plays locally. And he’s a good student academically.
“Coach Ashley Wesson and his wife and team stood up and empowered the children and began a club. He saw the potential in the children.
Kian said his love for the sport would spread his wings outside of the streets of Lavender Hill. “Sport is going to take me to see the world,” he said.
Ashley Wesson, Shiloh Top Spinners’ coach, said they are proud of the children.
“We are over the moon… We are ecstatic that our members made it to the SA team and some will be presenting Western Province in a tournament in Durban in October.”
Tazlyn Pietersen’s mother Chantal said her daughter showed determination and perseverance.
“It shows our community has talent, there is good that comes out of Lavender Hill,” said Pietersen. “We have started selling rotis and my daughter sells popcorn to raise funds for her trip.”