OPINION: Please look after our bright sporting future

The last month has shown the great potential in South African sport, and it is the responsibility of the various federations to nurture that talent. One of Nelson Mandela’s most quoted phrases is about how sport has the power to change the world. And lest we forget, it was in the midst of the victorious 1995 Rugby World Cup that Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s idea of South Africa as a ‘rainbow nation’ became part of our cultural identity. We could do with a bit more of that unity medicine right now, and sport can provide a very active ingredient.

The fact is the sports federations, particularly Athletics South Africa, has to do more. The foundations hopefully will be better laid in the future. Sports Minister Gayton McKenzie and Basic Education Minister Siviwe Gwarube have signed an agreement to bring sport back to every school in South Africa. That’s a tall order, but the fact that the importance of sport in education from a physical and mental health point of view has been recognized is significant. It also makes the job of spotting talent much easier, and at an age when it is more likely to be developed to its potential.

Our relay success at the Olympics, when two teenagers helped Akani Simbine finally win the global medal he so richly deserves, was just the start. Bayanda Walaza went on to win double gold at the World Under 20 Athletics Championships in Peru, when he was joined on the top step by 400m runner Udeme Okon. Don’t forget Benji Richardson was missing after being injured earlier at the Olympics. He is only 20 years old, so he’ll be back, hopefully stronger than ever. The Olympics also saw a world class performance from silver medalist Jo-Ané van Dyk in the discus, and although she’s a little older at 26, in throwing that’s positively youthful.

The Paralympics, which ended on Sunday, may have been a little disappointing to some. But take into consideration swimmer Nathan Hendricks, who turned 19 days before the Paralympics started, reached the final in 4 out of his 5 races. Fellow swimmer Danika Vyncke is just 17. Sprinter and long jumper Puseletso Mabote is only 19, just a few months younger than discus superstar Simoné Kruger.

So where do the federations come in? With support, and that means competition and money. Jo-Ané van Dyk’s story was well documented, after details emerged about how much financial support her parents have given her. The University of Potchefstroom has also been there for her, and will be for as long as she remains a student. The now retired Tatjana Smith also has a university system to thank, although from much earlier. She started as a student at the Tuksport High School, which is essentially a high performance academy for promising young sports stars, as long as you can afford the private school fees.

Athletics South Africa have known for some time that we have relay medal potential. But not enough has been done in the past to make it happen. This year, the relay team got together months before arriving in Paris, and spent time together training and practicing at high altitude in France. The preparations, as we now know, paid off. Shaun Maswangani, himself only 23 years old, is trained by American legend Carl Lewis in the US. He gets lots of relay practice on the NCAA circuit. But he acknowledged when Richardson was injured, that knowing your team-mates and your role in the squad, as well as practice handing over the baton to the same person over and over again, makes for slick changes and good times. They managed to do that anyway, despite the reshuffle necessitated by Richardson’s departure.

Walaza has already decided to stay in South Africa, despite numerous offers from American universities. He wants to stay with his coach, Thabo Matibedi, who coaches at both Curro Hazeldene where Walaza is writing matric this year, and at the University of Pretoria where he’ll study next year. It bodes well that more and more of South Africa’s global medal winners are home based. Athletics and Swimming South Africa, and other federations such as tennis, rowing, and disabled sport must make sure they get the support, and the competition, that will help them reach their enormous potential.

Outside of these global events, there are youngsters shining in other sports too. 22-year-old Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a star of the magnificent Rugby World Cup, Freedom Cup and Rugby Championship winning Springboks. Elrigh Louw and Jan-Hendrik Wessels aren’t much older. Kwena Maphaka has had a breakthrough season to win his first Proteas caps, and he’s still an 18-year-old schoolboy. Mustapha Cassiem is a 22-year-old hockey ace who already has 54 caps to his name.

South African sports federations, SASCOC in particular, have limited resources. They must make sure they use what they have for all the right reasons. And corporate South Africa has to come to the party. Be brave, look to the future, and back the next Olympians and World Cup champions, not just the ones you know now.