13 December 2016 PAGE 24
hillcrest FEVER
POSITIVE RUN CONTINUES FOR FORD
SPORT With eyes on the pockets KALISHA NAICKER kalisha.naicker@media24.com
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OR 26-year-old Kyle Akaloo being chosen to represent KZN at the SA Blackball Championships in January 2017 is a dream come true. Akaloo has many titles under his belt - the SA U23 second ranked player in 2010, SA U23, second ranked player in 2011, SA U23 first ranked player in 2012, SA U23 singles KO champion, KZN men’s first ranked player 2014, KZN men’s first ranked player in 2016, KZN men’s singles KO champion 2016. KZN Snooker first ranked player 2015 and KZN Snooker first ranked
player in 2016. He said his passion for playing pool and snooker is a major part of his life. “I started playing pool at the age of eight. I was introduced to the sport by my dad, Mervin, who started coaching me and I did tell him that one day I would be a champion,” he said. Describing himself as confident, Akaloo said he sets firm goals for himself and once those goals are defined he takes the necessary steps to achieve them. “I aspire to be the best I can possibly be in the sport and to achieve that I know I have to be willing to learn and grow.
“I look at what I can improve on for the next game and am constantly work on improving my skills and try to practice as often as possible,” said Akaloo. Akaloo’s role models are his grandparents. “They have been the rocks in my life, they constantly motivate me to be the best I can in the sport, and with my life. I could not ask for a better support structure. “In addition, I would also say that my uncle is a great role model as he is a self-made man.” Speaking about being ranked first in snooker and pool in KZN he said: “I feel very proud and privileged to be the number one seed to represent KZN at the SA Championships which will be held at Carnival City in January. “I plan on bringing it home for KZN and will try my level best to ensure that happens,” he said. His message to the youth is to not give up on dreams. “With hard work and motivation only you have the capability of making those dreams become reality.”
>> SEE PAGE 23
Sensational Mthembu breaks SA 100km record in stunning World Champs silver charge
Kyle Akaloo has his eye on the pocket. PHOTO: SUPPLIED
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
Following a solid third at the Comrades Marathon this year, Elite Athlete Development Programme star Bongmusa Mthembu finished second in the IAU 100km World Championships in Spain recently, where he also broke the South African 100km record held by Bruce Fordyce. IN what could be seen as the highlight of ultra-distance running in South Africa for 2016, the Elite Athlete Development Programme’s Bongmusa Mthembu along with fellow South Africans Gift Khelele, David Gatebe and Rufus Photo were the strongest overall team at the recent IAU 100km World Championships in Spain last week. Mthembu, who won the Comrades Marathon in 2014, was the strongest of the South African runners when he finished in a stellar second place overall behind Japan’s Hideaki Yamauchi, breaking the South African 100km record set by legend Bruce Fordyce in 1999 in the process. Mthembu has been in good form throughout 2016, collecting a third place finish at the Comrades Marathon along the way. The 33-year-old knew that 100km was going to be a completely different challenge though but was surprised by his performance. “It was the first time I had ever ran that distance so I really didn’t know what to expect from the race,” Mthembu said on his return to South Africa. “To be able to come second was incredible, but I think that the most important thing was that we were able to win the overall team title. “We worked well together and although we had some problems, I knew that the team was going to be strong and it’s an amazing time for ultra-distance running. “It just shows everyone that the
new era in South African running is upon us.” For Mthembu, the pressure of taking on an unknown distance was made easier by having a strong team of runners around him as he went beyond the 87km distance of the familiar Comrades Marathon while was also confident he was going to be strong enough when he pushed into the unknown. “The extra 10km did make a big difference, but I knew that I had trained enough to deal with it even though it was foreign to me. “The training wasn’t too different to that of our Comrades training but I learnt a huge amount about my ability and I hope that I will get the chance to run the race again in 2017 to see if I can push for a gold medal,” Mthembu mentioned excitedly. Mthembu was only the second South African to finish on the podium after Cornet Mathomane finished third in 1993. Despite his achievement on the international stage, the Bulwer resident’s focus remains on the 2017 Comrades Marathon ‘up run’ from Durban to Pietermaritzburg. “With a win and then a good performance in the down run this year I am really looking forward to the Comrades Marathon next year. “I have got the desire to win back the title and I think that I have the confidence, so if I can stay fit and healthy then I think that I will have a good chance to win the Comrades again.” For more information visit www.eadp.co.za - Supplied.