Perseverance and hard work paid off for two Kleinberg Primary School learners Angelina Speelman (11) and Tayo Lawrence (11) as they were both selected for the u-11 Cape Town Primary Schools Netball Teams.
The duo, from Ocean View, are expected to participate in a Western Cape tournament scheduled to take place from Sunday 2 to Wednesday 5 July in Riversdale, in the Southern Cape.
For Tayo, who had to deal with the tragic death of her mother Maylene Lombard in December last year and the loss of her father several years earlier, it is quite an achievement, according to school principal Denzil van Graan.
“A very shy but determined young girl who does not let her circumstances get her down, Tayo has shown grit and perseverance since the beginning of the school academic year,” he said. “Her mom’s tragic death was extremely heartbreaking, especially for Tayo and her younger sister. Despite this, she perseveres and shows great maturity in coping with traumatic loss.”
Tayo’s godmother Michelle Mokhane said the young girl and seven-year-old sister moved in with her after their mother died on New Year’s Eve.
“She lives with us during the week and at weekends she’s with her granny. On the day of her mother’s funeral, she decided to move in with us.”
She said Tayo’s mother, who was visiting her boyfriend, was one of three people who died in a Masiphumelele fire.
Mokhane believes that Tayo does not express how she feels and she always turns to netball as a “shield”.
“It seems as if netball has been a shield against anything. She is not one who talks a lot about what happened to her mom and dad.
“Netball has been her go-to place and she is very serious about what she is doing; there is nothing that can hold her back.”
Both girls have been selected to participate in the tournament through a rigorous selection process, according to Van Graan.
“They are both dedicated and hardworking netball players and excel in their school work as well.”
He added it was a proud moment for Angelina who thoroughly enjoys netball.
“Angelina is a very observant and obedient young girl, who always enters the class with a smile. It is a very proud moment for her to have made the Western Province team, coming especially from such a small community where our children don’t always have these opportunities.”
Their class teacher Gaynor Klazen agrees that they are dedicated to their netball and schoolwork.
“They are very pleasant, hardworking, obedient learners. They don’t miss a day of netball practice and enjoy being out on the court. I’m overjoyed that children from small communities such as Ocean View can excel and showcase their talents to the broader Cape Town and Western Cape netball fraternity.”
The learners need help to cover the cost of R4 400 each for their four-day tournament.
“They need to raise this for accommodation, travelling, catering and sports attire,” Van Graan pointed out.
- Contact the school to help.
