/ 12 June 2009

300 Young South Africans: Sport (Part 3)

In this section: Sifiso Nhlapo, Victor Matfield, Jean de Villiers and more...

In this section: Sifiso Nhlapo, Victor Matfield, Jean de Villiers and more…

Jean de Villiers, rugby player

The South African Rugby Annual 2009 writes: “Given that he probably scores one every three games, everyone should have their favourite Jean de Villiers intercept try by now”.
The Stormers captain and Springbok outside centre’s forays for both club and country saw Jean de Villiers named the 2008 Absa Player of the Year. His ability to read the game placed him as a favourite for the title ahead of other exceptional talents such as Beast Mtawarira, Bismarck du Plessis, Adrian Jacobs and Ryan Kankowski. The fact that he was also voted the Players’ Player of the Year confirms that the decision was unanimous in the rugby fraternity. — Phathisani Moyo

Lunch spot: Lemon Butta, Willowbridge, Belville


Simon Magakwe, sprinter

He has been called the accidental athlete. An injury while playing social football forced him to turn to the track. The poor boy from Carletonville arrived in Stellenbosch for the South African Championships with his makeshift kit in a Shoprite-Checkers bag, including a pair of hand-me-down spikes.
But the little known sprinter literally hit the big time when he clocked 10,21 seconds — an International Association of Athletics Federations “A”-standard qualifying time — to win the 100m and become South Africa’s fastest man. Today, Magakwe is preparing to catch his first flight. He will be the country’s medal hopeful at the World Championships in Germany later this year. — Phathisani Moyo

Lunch spot: McDonald’s, anywhere


Jongikhaya Nokwe, rugby player

In only his third game for the Springboks, the Free State Cheetahs wing Jongikhaya “Jongi” Nokwe ripped apart the Australian rugby team’s back line last year. He became the first Springbok player to score four tries against the Wallabies in a Test match, which lead to a 53-8 victory at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
The Wallabies must have breathed a sigh of relief when Nokwe was forced off the field by a leg injury, which he suffered when scoring his last try. The injury kept him out of the game for almost four months. — Lucky Sindane

Lunch spot: Nando’s, anywhere


Natalie du Toit, swimmer

Natalie du Toit led the South African Olympic and Paralympics teams in Beijing. And she restored some national pride after dismal performances by South Africans.
The swimming sensation was the star of the games after she won five gold medals in all five events she entered: the 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 50m freestyle, 100m freestyle and 400m freestyle. She was named the female winner of the Whang Youn Dai Achievement Award for the 2008 games. — Lucky Sindane

Lunch spot: Fournos, Woodmead, Johannesburg


Imraan Khan, cricketer

Sharing a name with a legend is no easy feat. But Imraan Khan has not disgraced the Pakistani cricket hero since the chance meeting when he was just 10-years-old.
“I remember being asked to present him with a gift when he visited our school because I happened to share the name with him,” Khan told the Mail & Guardian recently.
Still, the South African opening batsman never imagined being the next Imraan Khan. He became the second South African of Indian decent, after Hashim Amla, to make the Test squad. In the 2008-09 season, the 25-year-old amassed over 800 runs, knocking five centuries to leave him one short of bettering the record for the most 100s in a season held by Barry Richards, Mike Procter and Peter Kirsten. But to have equalled it is a remarkable achievement in itself. — Phathisani Moyo

Lunch spot: Spur Steak Ranch, anywhere

Lebo and Lebogang Phalula, middle distance runners

It is not easy to conduct an interview with the Phalula twins. They are exact replicas of each other. They look alike, often dress in matching outfits, run the same way, wear the same hairstyle, share the same likes and dislikes and often think the same way. When asked a question they respond in unison, as though they are singing. Although the twins, who run barefoot, missed out on the 2008 Beijing Olympics, they are regarded as the country’s top two women middle-distance runners. They have been winning most of the country’s 800m and 1 500m races since 1999, finishing first and second on many occasions. The fastest of the two is Lebogang. She is ranked first in both the 800m and 1 500m in the country with Lebo ranked second and fourth in the 800m and 1 500m respectively. — Lucky Sindane

Lunch spot: McDonald’s, anywhere


Refiloe Mochaka, netball player

Refiloe Mochaka, know as Nnana by her teammates, always has something to say. And maybe that’s the reason why she was given an award for good sportsmanship against Malawi in 2007.
At the age of 22 Mochaka, the attacking centre, is already making waves in netball circles with her impressive performances. Mochaka is shorter than many netball players, but can perform wonders when given the chance. She made her international debut against England in 2006. She still has a long way to go, but if her talent is nurtured she could become the country’s best centre attack. — Lucky Sindane

Lunch spot: Spur Steak Ranch, anywhere


Boy Soke, South African 10km champion

Boy Soke’s hopes of conquering the London 2012 Olympics are well on track. The middle-distance runner from the Free State is the national champion of the 5 000m, 10km and 12km cross-country races. Experts in running circles say athletes have to start with short distances to prepare themselves to be good marathon runners.
South Africa’s Hendrick Ramaala, winner of the 2004 New York City marathon and one of the top marathon runners in the world, best illustrates this. He was a short-distance runner before switching to marathon running. Soke has already cracked it as a half- marathon runner. He came eighth at the last Two Oceans marathon and second in Stellenbosch. He will now shift his focus to the marathon. — Lucky Sindane

Lunch spot: Spur Steak Ranch, anywhere


Sifiso “Skizo” Nhlapo, BMX cyclist

Sifiso Nhlapo booked his spot to the Olympics when he finished third in the elite men’s race at the 2008 BMX World Championships in Taiyuan, China. He had prepared well for the games and was set to claim his first Olympic medal. But it was not meant to be. Nhlapo crashed at the Olympic Games BMX final, dashing the 22-year-old’s hopes of winning a medal.
He was very emotional and distraught after the race, which took him four years to prepare for. But he did the country proud with his brave performance. Nhlapo has won the National Championships (five times), World Junior Championships in 2005 and also finished in the top 16 during the Elite Men Cruiser World Championships in 2007. Watch out for him in London 2012. — Lucky Sindane

Lunch spot: Boston Barbeque, Montecasino, Johannesburg


Victor Matfield, rugby player

The Blue Bulls skipper is arguably the best line-out jumper in the world. He has been an integral cog of the Springboks team from the time he made his debut in 2001. Victor Matfield formed the mainstay of Jake White’s World Cup winning team of 2007. He was also one of the five short-listed candidates for the International Rugby Union Player of the Year after another great season in 2005. Matfield is a respected leader and has captained the national team in the absence of John Smit. He led the Bulls to a memorable Super14-title in 2007 and his return from a year in France ensured the Pretoria-based side lifted the Super14 crown again this season. — Phathisani Moyo

Lunch spot: Crawdaddy’s, Menlyn, Pretoria