SASCOC president Barry Hendricks praises Team SA after the 10th Region 5 Youth Games
SASCOC president praises victorious Team SA
By GARY LEMKE
Team South Africa departed Lilongwe and arrived back in Johannesburg on Monday with the warm words and support of SASCOC president Barry Hendricks ringing in their ears.
SASCOC, which is responsible for delivering Team SA to multi-code events, sent a squad of some 270 to Lilongwe, Malawi, for the 10th Region 5 Youth Games. There they topped the medals table with 113 in total, 60 of them gold.
The final gold medal was won by the girls under-17 football side on Sunday, and they were on the chartered South African Airways flight from Lilongwe to OR Tambo International on Monday.
“Let me use this opportunity to thank you for your team spirit, camaraderie and drive to succeed. It takes a unique set of people to gel into a meaningful family and a winning Team South Africa,” Hendricks told the squad mid-flight.
“I am sure that you were not aware of the challenges that you would face but more importantly how you would take up the challenge to represent your country and wear the Protea symbol of team South Africa with pride. Your manners were exemplary, and you were true ambassadors of our proud nation.
“Every one of you contributed to the team spirit, team gees as we call it. You have made us proud. Congratulations to the victors, you accepted victory with humility. Those of you who did not attain gold, you accepted defeat with grace. Thank you all for your contribution to a victorious Team SA with 60 gold medals and 113 medals in total. We would be able to do this without our support staff, medical team, physios, psychologists, managers, coaches and CEO.”
Among the gold medallists on the flight were the girls netball and football sides, and athletes, while the boys football and volleyball teams who won silver were also on board.
“You and your teammates have ensured that we finished off an already successful year after the Commonwealth Games and made it a truly memorable year. You are our future leaders in sport. As the future senior champions of South Africa, SASCOC will be working with you and your federations in preparation for the Olympics in Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028,” Hendricks concluded.
The next Region 5 Youth Games will be held in Mozambique in 2024.
