Gymnasts from the Wavhudi Gymnastics Club excelled during the regional competition that took place on 4 May at the Louis Trichardt Gymnastics Club. The winners of this event qualified to take part in the provincial championship to be held at Thabazimbi on 18 May.
The coach of the young girls at Wavhudi is Angel Mulaudzi, whois also a gymnast herself . She said that she had started the club with the idea of developing rural young people and giving them an opportunity to get trained in gymnastics.
"I have seen impressive talent locally and came up with the idea of starting a club. Gymnastics teaches one to work hard, be disciplined, and stay focused. It also helps with social interactions - knowing and accepting gymnasts from different backgrounds. Lastly, gymnastics is fun!"
Growing up in rural Limpopo herself, she knows how scarce sporting resources can be. "There is so much talent in the rural villages, just waiting to be explored. We must nurture it, or else it will be lost forever," she said.
"As a rural group, we do not have money for transport and to pay for food for those young kids," she said. She estimated that they would need around R10,000 to cover the cost of getting the gymnasts to Thabazimbi. "We are making a plea to any good Samaritans to assist us. We will be participating in Thabazimbi as a club and will represent our district," she said.
Mulaudzi said that they wete currently hard at work training for the provincial competition. She also invited young boys and girls who are interested in gymnastics to come and join them. "We are planning to make this sport big, and we want everyone to participate. If we get sponsors in the future, we will reward the gymnasts to strengthen their spirits," she promised.
She also urged the business sector to support her club with sponsorships for the young girls. She can be phoned at 0726069986.