SA sprinter Bayanda Walaza’s decision to study at TUT was met with criticism on social media, but going overseas is not necessarily the right path for every athlete, writes Ashfak Mohamed.
Bayanda Walaza screams in delight after helping Team SA win the silver medal in the 4x100m relay at the Paris Olympics. Photo: AFPWe were all holding thumbs for Bayanda Walaza when he lined up in lane seven for the 4x100m relay final at the Paris Olympics last August.
Shaun Maswanganyi and Bradley Nkoana maintained SA’s position as they were fifth when Akani Simbine got the baton for the final leg, and the national record-holder produced the run of his life to claim the silver medal in a new African record of 37.57, behind champions Canada . So, the world was at Walaza’s feet as to where he would continue his athletics career – having also secured gold medals in the 100m and 200m at the world junior championships last year.
The TUT vice-chancellor and principal, Professor Tinyiko Maluleke, added: “TUT is ready to help this indomitable South African athlete accomplish his loftiest academic dreams.” But the man himself has said previously that he wanted to stay at home instead of going to the US colleges, and that would also allow him to continue working with his Curro athletics coach Thabo ‘Coach T’ Matebedi.
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