Nondumiso Khoza has the potential to become South Africa’s next “Golden Girl” athlete; all she needs is the chance to go out and prove it… and we can all help her do it.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – South African athletes are a talented bunch, but mostly, they only start getting noticed when they win big. Leading up to that first Olympic win, mainstream media fails to praise up and coming athletes enough. This should be changed. Before the big names in sport are ever the big names, they have to work twice as hard not only as an athlete but as a person desperate for funding every sporting event possible to become the winner they know they can be.
Meet Nondumiso Khoza, a 21-year-old who has the real potential to become the next Golden Girl of South Africa. She comes from a small town called Bergville in Kwa Maye area.
“This young lady, is as you can see, a beautiful beast. Those who know her well, call her ‘Speedy’ because she’s a Caster Semenya in the making.” – Zinhle Zikalala
Nondumiso has been pursuing her athletics career from a very young age and dreams of flying the South African flag high with a gold medal around her neck.
“After I completed my high school, I got an opportunity to relocate to Pietermaritzburg, in pursuit of my dream in athletics. I have represented the uKhahlamba District Municipality and the uThukela Municipality in various athletics events. I’ve also gotten the opportunity represented my province, KwaZulu-Natal in several other instances,” she says.
Nondumiso specialises in the 200 metres and 400-metre races and recently became the 400m KZN 2019 CHAMP. This title has forwarded her the opportunity to go to the international athletics tour in Germany, Sweden, and the Czech Republic, from 22 June – 20 July 2019.
During her tour, she will be competing against athletes from all over the world. However, she cannot afford to pay her way alone. Dependant on her single mother, she has to ask funders for assistance to help her get to the European tour. As her mother is the primary breadwinner and employed at Shoprite, there isn’t money to spare. Zinhle Zikalala decided to set up a crowdfund to help Nondumiso get to Germany.
“Without the funding, my dream won’t come true and this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, that will see me qualifying for all Africa games in 2019. The Olympics 2020 and World Champs 2019. Which would be great because I would then be able to put my hometown (Bergville) on the map, and kill the stigma that there is no talent in Bergville and inspire the next child who might have a fading dream because of where they come from or the situation they have at home,” says the young lady.
All funds raised through the BackaBuddy page will be paid directly to the Maritzburg Athletics Club. People are also able to donate in Nondumiso’s name directly to the athletics club. You can find the relevant information here. While in total she needs R120,000 to cover a full tour, the first goal is to raise R40,000 to get to Germany.
“All Nondumiso needs right now is your help. Let’s help create another Caster Semenya. Let’s all come together and contribute towards a promising African child with a dream. Nondumiso needs about 120K to cover her flights, visa, accommodation, meals and training facilities in Europe.” – Zinhle Zikalala
We can all get involved in nurturing the future athlete and her potential. You can find her crowdfund here. She has until the 15th to raise enough to pay for flights and visas. She has already pushed her trip out by a week to get the money together.
Together, we can make it happen.
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