SOL PLAATJE MASTERS FOOTBALL LEAGUE – WEEKEND FIXTURES

VUYOLETHU SCHOOL GROUND (10am): Burning Spear vs Macarena (referee: Aztec Masters)

(11.40am): Aztec Masters vs Milan (referee: Burning Spear)

PHUTANANG GROUND (10am): Phutanang Masters vs Roodepan Masters (referee: Masokolara)

(11.40am): Masokolara vs Ritchie Masters (referee: Roodepan Masters)

MADRID GROUND

(10am): Naughty Boys vs Riverton

Masters (referee: Madrid)

(11.40am): Real Madrid vs Newtown Sundowns (referee: Naughty Boys)

ROOISTOEP GROUND

(10am): Jeppes Masters vs Saints Masters (referee: Crusaders)

(11.40am): Crusaders vs Vultures (referee: Jeppes Masters)

BOYS HIGH SCHOOL

(10am): Juventus Masters vs Five Masters (referee: Barcelona)

(11.40am): Barcelona vs Sunshine (referee: Juventus)

AR ABASS STADIUM

(10am): Colville Masters vs Eagle Masters (referee: Chippa)

(11.40am): Chippa vs Pescodia (referee: Colville)

DISKOBOLOS GROUND (10am): Kopano Masters vs Diamond Boys (referee: Diamond Park) (11.40am): SAPS Masters vs Diamond Park (referee: Kopano)

COLVILLE GROUND

(10am): Newtown Masters vs Rhodesian Sweepers (referee: Batlhaping) (11.40am): Batlhaping vs Zulu Sweepers (referee: Rhodesian Sweepers)

TSHIRELECO GROUND (11am): Tigers Masters vs Greenpoint Masters (referee: Young Pirates)

“EK HET 'n medal gekry oom!” This was the first thing 18-year-old Zonian Bosman said when he saw me walking into his room at the Sally Aucamp Home for the Physically Disabled.

It was obvious that the young athlete was very excited, by the way he shouted that statement at me, while smiling from ear to ear.

Zonian had just returned from representing his province in the game of Boccia at the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled (SASAPD) National Championships that were held in Cape Town recently.

But Zonian needed to share something else before speaking about his medal.

“Seeing the ocean for the first time was very special for me,” he told the

DFA. “And being able to get into the water was also very nice, but the water was so cold, I started shouting, and everybody looked at me,” he said.

Zonian also said that while driving to and from Cape Town, the one thing that was not nice was the long hours sitting in the vehicle.

“My bum was hurting so much that I couldn’t wait to get out,” he said.

Turning his attention to the game itself, a game very similar to lawn bowls, with the same type of game play and strategic planning, Zonian explained that on the first day, they had a practice session so that they could get used to the grounds they would play on.

“On Saturday, we played the singles competition, but that didn’t go too well.

I was struggling a bit during that game. I don’t know why, but it was difficult for me.

“On Sunday, we played the doubles competition. My partner and I also struggled a bit there because we lost concentration. The music was a bit too loaded, and it was difficult to stay focused,” he explained.

There were also the ‘hiccups’ that he had to endure. Zonian said that on the Tuesday of the competition he was disqualified because he was late for the call room area.

“The bus we were travelling in gave us problems, and I couldn't make it in time, so I was disqualified. It wasn’t a nice feeling, but things happen that are out of your control,” he said.

“But at the end of the day, I am proud to say that I could come back home with a bronze medal. I wanted to bring this medal home to make my parents, friends, school, and home proud of my achievements,” he said, showing off his prized award.

For now, Zonian is looking forward to another tournament that is coming up in Cape Town again soon, and then after that one, he will travel to Bloemfontein in October or November to take part in a competition there, so there will be a lot of work ahead.

“I will definitely try and do better in the future games than this competition I was at. I’ll practise often so that my skill level can improve,” he said with determination.