Mayenzeke Gwija, a wheelchair tennis athlete from Khayelitsha, is struggling with significant financial obstacles even though he has achieved recognition on the global wheelchair tennis circuit. Gwija states that financial limitations prevent him from participating in international competitions and acquiring necessary sporting gear.
Despite his name being listed in the official roster of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) for the Wheelchair Tennis Tournament, Gwija, who is 39 years old and one of South Africa's leading players, faces a lack of funds. These funds are needed to replace worn-out wheelchair tires, purchase tennis balls and rackets, and cover travel to tournaments.
Gwija has built an impressive career representing the Western Cape and South Africa on the international stage. However, he notes that, unlike many of his colleagues, his success is not backed by a salary, sponsorship, or stable financial support. He reports that he currently receives no support from organizations or the public and must constantly seek donations.
Originally born in KwaGatjane in Willowwayle in the Eastern Cape, Gwija was born with a disability. He moved to Khayelitsha in 2006 seeking better opportunities. Two years later, in 2008, he discovered wheelchair tennis. He recalls that there were no accessible sports for people with disabilities in his hometown, which sparked his interest in this discipline.
Over the years of practice, Gwija has become a top-ranked player in the Western Cape and third in South Africa, allowing him to compete with some of the world's best athletes. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that his competitiveness is constantly complicated by rising costs. The main issues include equipment—he lacks tire cables for his wheelchair, which wear out quickly, as well as not always having enough rackets and balls. He has to solicit donations to acquire these items.
Transportation also presents a serious obstacle. Using public transport in a wheelchair makes trips to training and competitions difficult and expensive. Despite all the difficulties, Gwija continues to give back to his community. Recently, he visited a school in Gugulethu, where he was invited to introduce students to wheelchair tennis and teach them the sport.
Gwija hopes that through teaching and mentoring, he can inspire more children with disabilities to participate in sports. The 39-year-old resident of Khayelitsha states that he relies on a disability grant from the South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) and donations to cover expenses for equipment, transportation, and tournament participation. He appeals to the public and businesses for support through donations or sponsorship so that he can continue to represent his community, the Western Cape, and South Africa.
Lando Norris, a British driver for the McLaren team, secured pole position at the Hungarian Grand Prix following the qualifying session at the Hungaroring circuit near Budapest. He managed to overtake Lewis Hamilton of Ferrari, achieving his first pole of the season with a flawless lap recorded in the final seconds of qualifying.
The 26-year-old Briton set the fastest lap time of one minute and 17.207 seconds. This result allowed him to surpass Hamilton's attempt to set an unprecedented tenth pole on this track by only 0.012 seconds. Charles Leclerc of Ferrari finished third in qualifying ahead of Sunday's race in Budapest.
World champion Kimi Antonelli of Mercedes finished fourth, trailing by 0.260 seconds. He was overtaken by Oscar Piastri of McLaren and four-time champion Max Verstappen of Red Bull.
Norris expressed his delight, stating: 'I am very happy to be back on top.' He noted the difficulty of the session and the high speed of the Ferrari drivers, adding that improvements helped the team: 'It was tough throughout the weekend, but we were fast, and our upgrades helped – it feels great to be on pole, especially at this track.'
Hamilton, aged 41, approached the potential status of the oldest pole sitter since Mario Andretti at the 1982 Italian Grand Prix. For Norris, this was his second pole in Budapest and his seventeenth in his career, the last of which was in Las Vegas in November.
Hamilton congratulated Norris, remarking: 'I think we worked well all weekend and were consistent in qualifying, but going out first wasn't the right decision. Furthermore, the grip just wasn't there for Charles and me at the end. We were the fastest, but ultimately it slipped away from us.'
Leclerc explained his position due to changes in wind: 'There were quite a few wind changes today, and I didn't expect that. Everything was a bit chaotic.'
The session began under hot conditions with a track temperature of 52°C. Valtteri Bottas led the start in his Cadillac, followed by rivals from Williams and Aston Martin in updated 'B-spec' cars. Ferrari ran both cars on medium tyres, and Hamilton quickly set the pace with 1:18.730, overtaking Leclerc, whose lap was discarded for exceeding track limits.
The remaining participants used soft tyres. Norris was ahead of Verstappen and Antonelli, with Hamilton behind them. Meanwhile, Aston Martin was pleased as Alonso finished 16th and qualified for Q2 for the first time this year.
Both Cadillacs, both Williams cars, Lance Stroll in the second Aston Martin, and Oliver Berman from Haas were eliminated from the race. Alex Albon of Williams called the situation 'terrible', questioning the frequent balance changes of the cars.
Alonso, using worn soft tyres, was the first to enter Q2 but was half a second slower than Hajar, who had previously declared his car 'undrivable' during FP3. In front of Hamilton on soft tyres, Antonelli posted 1:17.931, much to his dissatisfaction.
Unexpectedly, Alonso climbed to 10th place, and then, after a pit stop, moved to first place, but was overtaken by Norris, while Leclerc passed him in the final seconds of the lap.
Liam Lawson from Racing Bulls, two Alpine cars, Gabriel Bortoleto from Audi, and Esteban Ocon from Haas, who finished 16th, were also eliminated from the race. The battle for the top 10 began, where Hamilton initially took provisional first place with a lap of 1:17.219, overtaking Norris by a tenth of a second, as well as Leclerc and Antonelli after their initial fast runs.
Hamilton and Leclerc went out for a second run but could not improve their positions. Verstappen then caused his Red Bull to spin at Turn 13, triggering yellow flags that affected several following cars, although Norris's McLaren remained untouched.
The head coach of the South African national team, Disari Ellis of Banyana Banyana, warned her players not to underestimate Tanzania as South Africa prepares to apply for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) title restoration in Morocco.
South Africa will begin its Group B against Tanzania on Monday, followed by matches against Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso. Ellis understands that a successful start could be decisive in a tournament where the stakes go beyond continental greatness.
The four teams that reach the semi-finals will automatically qualify for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil, making every point in the group stage invaluable. Banyana is determined to return to the top of African football after winning its first continental title in 2022.
According to Ellis, ambitions start with how the team handles what she expects to be another tough confrontation against Tanzania. The coach stated: 'Obviously, we start with Tanzania, and we have always had tense games against them, so we are not going to underestimate them; if you underestimate a team, you risk it, and the next thing you know, it's a chase for the game.'
She believes the first match will determine the course of Banyana's campaign, as they aim for another deep run on the continent. 'So it is important to start well and set the tone for the rest of the tournament, and after that, we can focus on the main goal, which is qualifying for the World Cup, and then we will see what happens.'
Ellis has maintained an experienced core squad, which has become one of Africa's most stable teams in recent years, while also including six players participating in the WAFCON tournament for the first time, continuing to work on the team's future. She believes that the combination of experience and youth allows South Africa to be well-prepared for the expectations accompanying the representation of one of the continent's leading nations.
The coach noted: 'Pressure is a privilege; once you are in this team, there is pressure, but the team usually handles it well, and the experience we gained being here and doing this before will be very helpful, especially for the six players who are participating in the WAFCON tournament for the first time.'
Despite Banyana heading back to Morocco with the hopes of the entire nation, Ellis emphasizes that before thinking about winning another continental trophy or securing a spot in the World Cup, South Africa must first overcome Tanzania and build a foundation for a successful campaign. For Banyana, returning to the biggest prize in Africa starts with playing the first 90 minutes correctly.
The coach of Bafana Bafana, Hugo Bruus, expressed deep sorrow over the death of midfielder Jayden Adams, who was buried in Stellenbosch on Saturday. Bruus paid an emotional tribute to the young player during his funeral.
Bruus believes that South African football has lost a player with enormous potential. He joined the family, friends, teammates, and members of the football community to say goodbye to the 25-year-old midfielder. His death caused mourning across the country just weeks after he helped Bafana Bafana reach the FIFA World Cup playoffs for the first time.
The Belgian coach, who included Adams in the World Cup squad, stated that he never doubted the choice of this midfielder for the biggest football stage. Bruus noted: 'We did not hesitate to take him to the World Cup, and he helped us a lot.' Adams was one of Bafana's standout performers in the tournament, completing an impressive rise that began at Stellenbosch FC, then moved to Mamelodi Sundowns, where he won the CAF Champions League and several domestic trophies.
Bruus felt that the talented midfielder had only just begun to realize his potential. He emphasized: 'He was a player with huge potential, and, as I said (he passed away) too early and too soon we lost him because he was far from his limits. He was going to become much better and become a very big and great player for South Africa, and it is a shame that he is no more.'
SAFA President Danny Jordan was also present at the funeral. He used the opportunity to reflect on the number of young South African footballers whose lives ended tragically. Jordan mentioned: 'We have lost not only Jayden, but we have also lost Jayden Oswin's friend (Andrees), who was 19 years old, and we have also lost Heath Leremy at 22, and many other players under 25.'
Jordan called on South African football to pay more attention to the well-being of players, stating that the demands on footballers go beyond the pitch. He noted: 'What South African football must do is understand the pressure these players are under, not only from coaching demands but also from problems outside of football. We must provide a structure, similar to what we created for Banyane, which includes psychologists.'
These tributes reflected the sense of loss felt throughout the football community. Adams is remembered not only as one of South Africa's brightest midfield talents but also as a young man whose career and life were cut short before reaching his full potential.
