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The MaAfrika Tikkun triathlete team from Orange Farm township made an impact at the London Triathlon this weekend, finishing an incredible 10th in the Sprint Team event in a time of 01:16:32.
More than 300 teams from around the world competed in the swim, cycle and running team event.
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From left to right: Mduduzi, Thomas Taole (trainer),
Teboho and Tshiamo.
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Swimmer Teboho Shibambo (22) bravely held his own in the 750m swim, finishing in 4:18. It is important to remember that in the last two years of
MaAfrika Tikkun’s participation in the London Triathlon, the MaAfrika Tikkun team was unable to field a swimmer, a clear indication of just how
far Teboho has come.
But then Mduduzi Mshibe (21) – the cyclist - and Tshiamo Phutagae (21) – the runner - burnt through the field and took top honours among all
the teams sponsored by Belron®, the world’s largest vehicle glass repair and replacement business. In all, some 600 Belron athletes competed in
the London Triathlon – and the Youth Interns from Orange Farm came out tops.
The MaAfrika Tikkunm team’s road to the triathlon was uncertain. Teboho’s participation was put in jeopardy when the public pool in Orange Farm
closed for the winter leaving him with nowhere to train. However, the 702 Birthday Wish and Virgin Active came to the rescue and Teboho was able
to train at the Lenasia Virgin Active.
MaAfrika Tikkun’s CEO Marc Lubner says the superb performance of the young triathletes – all participants in MaAfrika Tikkun’s Youth Development
programme – is testimony to their hard work and determination to overcome their impoverished backgrounds.
The team and their coach, Thomas Taole, return to South Africa on Wednesday, August 5 with their medals, memories of an experience of a
lifetime, and an enormous sense of pride.
“An important aspect of the team’s participation in the London Triathlon is that the athletes have become great role models for the younger
participants in our Youth Development programme. It shows them that with hard work and dedication, it is possible for people from impoverished
communities to succeed. And succeed they did – they did MaAfrika Tikkun, Orange Farm and South Africa proud,” Lubner adds.
Through Belron’s participation, the event also raised a substantial amount of money for MaAfrika Tikkun’s child and youth development work at in
six township community centres in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
For more information contact Amanda Blankfield at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
or 011 325 5914 or visit www.maafrikatikkun.org.za
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About MaAfrika Tikkun
MaAfrika Tikkun is a registered Non-Governmental and Public Benefit Organisation that is focused on the sustainable transformation of
communities. With Nelson Mandela as our patron-in-chief, MaAfrika Tikkun’s goal is to nurture children and youth from 0-19 years of age,
empowering them to develop into valuable, contributing members of society. Our multi-disciplinary, inclusive model has been embraced by various
government departments with which we have Public Private Partnerships. We also partner with NGOs who have complementary skills and resources
that ensure “our” children receive the most comprehensive care and development support as a fundamental part of our Holistic Circle of Care
Model. We specialise in making our donors partners in the delivery of our services.
For additional information, please contact:
Amanda Blankfield, Marketing Manager, Gauteng, MaAfrika Tikkun. 011 325 5914
www.maafrikatikkun.org.za
Marilyn de Villiers, Troika PR. 011 884 0775
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My name is Mduduzi Mshibe from Orange Farm. I started working at Maafrika Tikkun last year as a youth intern doing facilitation and sports. I got involved in triathlons this year. I was participating in 3 different kinds of sports: swimming, running and cycling so I didn’t know where my passion lay but with the motivation from my coaches, I became aware of my talent. It was exciting and fun when we were training. The races were the most exciting because after the race Thomas, our coach, took us out to a fancy restaurant and we had different kinds of meals – we even ate with a fork and knife! It is an exciting and great opportunity and I can’t wait to go in a plane and fly to London!
Thanks to MaAfrika Tikkun and Thank you Belron!
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My name is Teboho Shibambo and I was born on 15th July 1988 at Baragwanath Hospital in Soweto. I started schooling at Michael Rua School in Walkerville and went to Meyerton High in the South of Johannesburg after that. After finishing matric, I could not go to tertiary education because of my parents’ financial problems, which led to their divorce and my going to live with my grandmother. I joined MaAfrika Tikkun in February 2007 because I had a great love and interest in children. I volunteered as a youth intern for 15 months until I got the opportunity to train and implement data capturing in my community. This has given me a very big opportunity to be around the things that I love, which is children and computers. My career goal is to be an IT programmer.
MaAfrika Tikkun has definitely transformed myself and my community and this trip to London is even more amazing!
Thank you MaAfrika Tikkun and Belron.
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My name is Tshiamo Andrew Phuthagae. I was born and raised in Taung, which is in the North West province of South Africa. I started school at Sekhing Primary, went to Molotlegi middle and finished matric at Thetha High. After a year when there was nothing to be done for me in North West province, I decided to come to Johannesburg to find something. I arrived in 2008 in Orange Farm township where I started volunteering as a youth intern at Arekopaneng, which is part of MaAfrika Tikkun. It has been a good journey since I started working for MaAfrika Tikkun because I manage to take care of myself as there are no family members close to me. I have really grown up spiritually and physically through sport and arts and culture, which we are doing everyday throughout the week. The trip to London is such a wonderful gift and opportunity. The training was so exciting as it gave me good morale as I never thought I was good at sport before.
I thank MaAfrika Tikkun and Belron a million times on transforming even the youth like me.
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