A resilient and determined Shaiyene Fritz (21) from Lavender Hill reached the World Blackball Championships women’s category last year and walked away with gold.
This time, the world champ has her sights set on the International Heyball Championship that is set to be held in China from Thursday 16 March to Thursday 6 April.
READ | Lavender Hill woman overcomes all obstacles to become a world Blackball champion
Coming from a poverty-stricken background has never held Fritz back from living her dreams.
The young woman has started a back-a-buddy campaign in the hope of raising enough funds to compete in China.
“I represented South Africa in October 2022 and returned home a world champion bringing a gold medal with me. This girl from Lavender Hill has travelled and seen places and this allowed my perspective to be broadened.”
In 2019, Fritz was chosen to represent South Africa in Germany, but due to a lack of funds she had to withdraw.
“I am now a third-year student studying social work at Stellenbosch University and I chose it because I saw a need in the community. I saw what I could do to be part of the change I want to see. In October 2022, I got an opportunity to represent SA in Morocco where our team won and became the world champions. It was a thrilling experience and I wish to experience that feeling once again. The feeling of knowing I made my community and country proud.”
Fritz adds that the winner of the tournament would walk away with around 5 million Chinese Yuan, which is R12,5 million.
“I thought about what I could do with R12,5 million and the first thought was getting my mom out of Lavender Hill, opening my dream business, Shaiyene’s pool academy for the children and investing in helping children from poverty-stricken communities into universities.
“I will never stop persevering and doing my best to get my degree, become number one in the world, in the pool, as well as making my three biggest dreams mentioned above come true.”
If Fritz does exceptionally well in the upcoming tournament she could get the chance to be number one in the world.
“I want to show future generations from Lavender Hill that anything is possible if you put your mind to it.
“Despite everything on my plate, I was offered the role of secretary at Western Province Pool Union which I accepted so that I can be part of the change that makes it easier for future generations to play pool and enjoy the sport.
“My hope is that as pool progresses future children of the sport do not need to go through the same financial difficulty I did.”
Around R35 000 – which includes return flights, clothing, accommodation, passports, visas, food and entry fees, is needed to get Fritz to the prestigious tournament in China.
- For more information visit https://www.backabuddy.co.za/champion/project/shaiyene-has-a-dream-and-thats-to-get-to
