Twenty-one-year-old Tshedza Rathumbu, a pupil at Tshilwavhusiku Razwimisani Special School in Ravele, will represent the South African table tennis team at the Special Olympics Summer World Games 2023 in Berlin, Germany, from 17 to 25 June.
The Special Olympics World Games are the world's largest inclusive sports event, where thousands of athletes with intellectual disabilities compete in 26 different sports.
To show that they stand firmly behind him in support, the school organised a special 'send-off' event for Rathumbu on Wednesday, 17 May. Different stakeholders attended the function, including representatives from the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the acting mayor of Makhado Municipality, Cllr Rachel Gabara, and a representative of Special Olympics South Africa.
Vhembe District's director for sport, arts and culture, Mr Collins Thovhakale, said Rathumbu was making the district, province and country at large very proud. He promised to give him and the other selected players from Limpopo all the necessary assistance to ensure that they have a good and enjoyable stay in Berlin.
Rathumbu's coach, Ms Winny Petlo, described him as a very dedicated learner and said she had no doubt that he would hold the country's flag very high. "We are greatly humbled, and we are very confident that he will bring back a wealth of knowledge to share with us back here. Their teachers are not just teachers, but also social workers at the same time. They are really doing an excellent job," she said.
Rathumbu urged other learners not to take competitions for granted as they are platforms that could open opportunities for them to shine in the outside world. "As a young rural boy, I am fortunate to have been chosen to represent SA overseas. I received a lot of support from my family and schoolteachers, and that has helped a lot. This is the best thing to have happened in my life, and I will make use of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. I will come back and share my experience there with the rest of my country," he said.