SASCOC names squad for African Youth Games

The South African Sports Confederation, Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SASCOC) on Thursday announced a squad of 91 athletes representing 12 sports for the upcoming African Youth Games in Luanda, Angola.

These are the fourth such Games, and the third in which Team South Africa will be competing, after previously being staged in Rabat (2010), Gaborone (2014) and Algiers (2018). This year’s edition, from 10-20 December, are especially important as they serve as preparation for next year’s Youth Olympics in Senegal.

Swimming, with 25, and athletics, with 18, have the most representation. The other sports being represented are badminton, beach handball, beach volleyball, cycling, judo, karate, table tennis, taekwondo, tennis and weightlifting.

SASCOC President, Barry Hendricks, said: “Being part of a team at the African Youth Games is a huge milestone for our young athletes. Luanda has the added importance of being an opportunity for a number of these athletes to use these Games as a

benchmark to test themselves against other athletes from the continent. For many of them, this is their first taste of international competition.

“Team SA has a history of athletes who have excelled at these African Youth Games and gone on to dominate on the senior international stage. As always, they will be equally ambassadors for South Africa as they will be athletes,” he added.

Nozipho Jafta, SASCOC CEO, emphasised the importance of the Games in the development of an athlete's career. "These African Youth Games are where a lot of South Africa's athletes that graduated to the elite level started their journeys. Multiple Olympic champions and world champions attended these Games as Under-16s. They are vitally important for us to introduce our young stars to the bigger stages and the experience gained in Angola will benefit them as they climb their individualladders of success."

Project leader for the 2025 African Youth Games is Leon Fleiser, General Manager - High Performance at SASCOC. He was also team leader at the 2018 African Youth Games in Algiers. “We’ve seen how our young talent has performed at these Games previously which means that our talent ID programmes and work with the Federations is paying off. I’m also excited to be joined at these games by Sizwe Ndlovu, who isrowing gold medallist from the 2012 Olympic Games, as Deputy Chef de Mission. Sizwe is a shining example of someone who came through our systems to achieve the highest honours and is now integrally involved in sharing his knowledge with the next generation."

In previous African Youth Games, Team SA finished second on the medals table in 2014 with 83 medals (41 gold) and sixth on the table in 2018 with 33 medals (15 gold).

These Youth Games are for Athletes between ages 13 and 16, born between 21 December 2008 and 31 December 2011.

Previous Team SA representatives

Among athletes who represented Team SA at these African Youth Games and have gone on to be future Olympians and world champions: Alan Hatherly (2014 mountain biking gold), Jo-Ane du Plessis (2014 athletics gold), Prudence Sekgodiso (2018 athletics bronze), Mustapha Cassiem (2018 hockey gold), Tatjana Smith (2014 swimming gold) and Rugby World Cup winners Herschel Jantjies and Grant Williams (2014 rugby sevens gold).

TEAM SA SQUAD

ATHLETICS (18)

Boys: Micah Africa (100m), Jayden Fourie (200m/Long Jump), Jaydon Fairlie (400m), Emile Els (800m/1500m), Enrique Bosch (110mH), Matao le Roux (High Jump), Dewald Bezuidenhout (Shot Put), Joshua Gerber (Discus Throw), Jacobus van der Merwe (Javelin Throw)

Girls: Oluchi Ndubueze (100m/Long Jump), Isabella Gunter (200m), Minke Dekker (3000m), Megan Nieman (100mH/400mH), Jade Doran (2000mSC), Anri Rautenbach (High Jump), Skyler van Dyk (Triple Jump), Johanna Lamprecht (Shot Put/Discus Throw), Nicola van der Merwe (Javelin Throw)

Management: Suzan Molobye-Milanzi (Team Manager), Regoabetswe Malope (Logistics), Derek van Rensburg (Coach), Josephus le Roux (Coach)

BADMINTON (4)

Boys: Misha Bredell, Ricardo Vigario

Girls: Chloe Lai, Layla Niayesh

Coach/Manager: Dillan Schaap

BEACH HANDBALL (10)

Girls: Kamohelo Chakela, Nolwande Dlomo, Amohelang Kalane, Nothando Zulu, Koketso Lekarapa, Azile Mkatali, Agcobile Mjekula, Nteboheng Modimonyana, Keolebogile Sekati, Amogelang Tamela

Management: Shaun Mokhine (Head Coach), Bongani Mdhlalose (Assistant Coach),

Vivian Buffel (Manager)

BEACH VOLLEYBALL (4)

Boys: Duncan Davids, Evra King

Girls: Zeevah Pocock, Naledi Ganyane

Management: Koali Possa (Coach), Patricia De Jaar (Manager)

CYCLING (8)

Boys: John Donald, Tristen Cordier, Jacobus Lombard, Frederick Botha

Girls: Alandri Steyn, Summer Gaylard, Jennah Jacobs, Danika Lombard

Management: Sonja Schultz (Manager), Nico Dunn (Coach/Mechanic)

JUDO (3)

Boys: Dane van Heerden

Girls: Mishka Scheepers, Ayabulela Gwama

Management: Kyle Schroeder (Coach)

KARATE (9)

Boys: Darius Narainsamy, Raahi Ramchunder, Shivaan Ramdhial, Galliano Boni, Rio Camacho Da Cruz

Girls: Farah Seedat, Jenna-Lee Atkinson, Yathiksha Sewpersad, Sahastra Ramtahal

Management: Michael Roetz (Coach), Charlene Stopforth (Manager)

SWIMMING (25)

Boys: Roelof Bartleman, Gerard February, Matthew Goller, Kellen Jones, Erick Kotze, Cole Martin, Nicholas Pretorius, Ramano Sefehle, Kyle Snyders, Jayden Williams

Girls: Arabella Bayly, Kylie De Bruyn, Caitlin Evans, Sienna Gous, Saskya Kistnasami, Abigail Kotze, Bailey Lambert, Leah Markgraaff, Gizelle Maritz, Maya Mgcina, Jemmah Roman, Sophia Trout, Mila van der Linde, Chanel Veldsman, Guiliana Vyncke

Management: Lucy Conradie (Manager), Keenan Riffel (Coach), Sibani Makhanya (Coach), Amanda Koegelenberg (Coach)

TABLE TENNIS (2)

Boys: Ruan Scholtz

Girls: Tamika van As

Management: Musfiquh Kalam (Coach/Manager)

TAEKWONDO (4)

Boys: Timothy Matthews, Uthando Tau, Lethabo Botsi, Odirile Mohlamme

Management: Duncan Mahlangu (Head Coach)

TENNIS (2)

Boys: Hlumani Kekana

Girls: Lonwabo Majeke

Management: Bella Makhoba

WEIGHTLIFTING (2)

Boys: Tyrell Stewart

Girls: Chanel Viviers

Management: Daniel Katzav