
Glen Anil resident surfs to third spot at para champs
GLEN Anil's David Williams made the most of home conditions to win a spot on the podium at this year's Sea Harvest SA Para Surfing Championships held at Durban's New Pier.
Williams, who was born without legs below the knee, competes in the kneel division and placed third overall.
The event was hosted by Made for More, an NPO empowering people with disabilities, and was supported by the Department of Sports, Arts and Culture, and Surfing South Africa (SSA).
Also read: Stedman and Van de Winkel claim Tour Durban titles
'I loved the vibe. Surfing in front of a home crowd with a high level of competition from other provinces was exciting. I always make the most of it and my personal experience was a positive. What makes the national para surfing champs is it shines a spotlight on adaptive surfers. On a competition level I didn't get in as much training before the competition due to the poor water quality. I love being in the water and normally in the lead-up to nationals I would be surfing everyday.
'So considering all of that I was super proud of myself for winning a medal. Surfing against such amazing people like Lerato Seroke who placed first and Osborne Gumede who placed second also brought out the best in me. They are both amazing surfers and to finish on a podium with them was awesome,' said the 37-year-old.
Williams also recently took on the aQuellé Tour Durban 28km race in a handcycle.
For more from Northglen News, follow us on Facebook, X or Instagram. You can also check out our videos on our YouTube channel or follow us on TikTok.
Click to subscribe to our newsletter – here
At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

IOL News
a day ago
- IOL News
Broos must use these friendlies to decide Bafana Bafan's No 2
Bafana will play Tanzania at the Peter Mokaba Stadium on Friday at 7.30pm and follow up with neighbours Mozambique at Loftus Versfeld on Tuesday night. WHILE it may go a long way to calming nerves for Bafana Bafana debutants, coach Hugo Broos' statement about giving all the players some minutes in the upcoming friendlies against Tanzania and Mozambique, must not apply to goalkeepers. Congratulations to Nkosinathi Sibisi, who has been named Bafana Bafana captain for the next two matches 👏 Back to Broos' squad, which is cautiously missing Mamelodi Sundowns players as they are preparing for the 2025 Fifa Club World to be played in the US from the 17th, there are three goalkeepers competing to start in the two friendlies - Orlando Pirates' Sipho Chaine, Sekhukhune United's Renaldo Leaner and SuperSport United's Ricardo Goss. These matches should not be confused with those of the A-side, also formerly known as Ama-Binneplaas, which is competing in the Cosafa Cup against Mozambique on Wednesday afternoon, Zimbabwe on Saturday and Mauritius on Tuesday. This is Bafana Bafana. They represent South Africa, and whenever they play, we as South Africans are always fully behind them….. With Ronwen Williams on Club World Cup duty, the door is open for these goalkeepers to elevate themselves to the national team's trusted number two shot stopper. But with the Belgian mentor quoted this week saying: 'It is a great opportunity for the new players and also the young ones, there is no pressure. We are playing friendly matches, so the results are not that important. From my side, I will give every player the same playing time.' Therein lies the problem. This approach will not help the coach and his technical team in zoning into who should be Williams official lieutenant. A good thing is that he himself, Broos understands this approach is quite tricky with goalkeepers, as he continued to say: 'It is a little bit difficult for goalkeepers, but even for them, we will try every keeper to play the same minutes and have a good camp.' A free piece of advice to Broos is that he must not attempt this 'giving every player the same playing time' when it comes to goalkeepers. They must compete for the jersey and the best one of the bunch should start the first match, hands down. There is a downside to letting players know that they share playing time; no one will ascend the top spot. Yes from a common sense point of view, Chaine is supposedly the deputy to Williams currently, simply because of his performances with Pirates and his travels in the Caf Champions League. But the 28-year-old has actually only played one match out of his eight in the Bafana matchday squad. Goss on the other hand, has more experience with the national side, considering that he has even played in the Cosafa Cup and was part of the age group sides as a youngster. So, as much as there is not so much of a debate as to who is the better performing shot stopper between Goss and Chaine at the moment, competition for Williams' deputy is still very much wide open and giving out caps like Christmas presents will not help the Bafana cause. Having a settled and trusted number two will help even Williams to up his game, or better yet, it will prevent head-scratching during those times when he is not available for unavoidable reasons such as injuries. Broos must just have balls and start whoever shows more hunger among the three.

The Star
a day ago
- The Star
Hugo Broos' backup brigade: five players who must impress in Bafana Bafana friendlies
Obakeng Meletse | Published 3 hours ago Bafana Bafana have been on an upward trend and will be eager to maintain their impressive form when they face Mozambique and Tanzania in two upcoming international friendlies. The first match kicks off this Wednesday against Mozambique at the New Peter Mokaba Stadium (3pm kick-off). Coach Hugo Broos will be without several key players, particularly those from Mamelodi Sundowns, who are preparing for the upcoming FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, which begins in under two weeks. This presents Broos with an ideal chance to test the depth of his squad and provide fringe players an opportunity to stake a claim. Here's a look at five players who need to make a strong impression: Sipho Chaine The Orlando Pirates goalkeeper has been biding his time behind Ronwen Williams, who is firmly established as the national team's first-choice keeper. With Williams unavailable, Chaine now has the chance to impress Broos and possibly challenge for the number one spot. The 28-year-old has shown steady improvement under Jose Riveiro and played a key role in Pirates' recent successes. Now, with a rare opportunity at the international level, Chaine must deliver standout performances in these friendlies to put real pressure on Williams. Mbekezeli Mbokazi At just 19, Mbokazi has captured the attention of the South African football world after being promoted from the reserve team to the Buccaneers' senior squad, where he hardly put a foot wrong in the few appearances he made for the Sea Robbers last season. Touted as a future star, Mbokazi has already featured in high-stakes matches and could be in line for his international debut. Should he get a run, these friendlies will test whether he can replicate his club form on the international stage. Oswin Appollis It hasn't been the smoothest season for the versatile midfielder, whose Polokwane City side just secured a top-eight finish on the final day of the campaign with a goalless draw against Kaizer Chiefs. However, Broos has previously shown faith in players who may be out of form, helping them rediscover their best. Appollis will be hoping for similar support as he aims to return to top shape and prove his worth in the national setup. Patrick Maswanganyi One of the most consistent performers for Orlando Pirates in the 2024/25 season, Maswanganyi has already made a few appearances for Bafana, including scoring his first international goal against Uganda in an AFCON qualifier last November. With uncertainty surrounding Themba Zwane's future at Sundowns, Maswanganyi now has a golden chance to make the attacking midfield position his own, especially with vital World Cup qualifiers on the horizon. Thabo Moloisane Stellenbosch FC's Thabo Moloisane could feature in these friendlies with regular defender Grant Kekana absent. A former Sundowns player, Moloisane has found his stride at Stellies, playing a pivotal role in their CAF Confederation Cup run, where they narrowly lost to Simba FC in the semi-finals. The 26-year-old has been in and around the national team and will look to solidify his place by showing Broos the full extent of his capabilities.

IOL News
2 days ago
- IOL News
Rev your engines for a thrilling ride into South Africa's car spinning culture with 'Gush'lyf'
Mzansi Magic's new show, 'Gush'lyf', offers viewers a thrilling glimpse into the high-octane world of car spinning. Image: Supplied Spinning, a thrilling motorsport culture, is heading to television screens this August, promising exciting times for enthusiasts. "Gush'lyf" offers car enthusiasts a fresh and exciting experience, blending the thrill of modern car spinning with a touch of classic style. It's the latest must-see for anyone passionate about the popular performance stunt. As most people know, the BMW 325i (Gusheshe) is usually the star of the show when it comes to spinning, and for those who appreciate the meticulousness and skill required to execute flawless drifts, this is a must-watch. Coming to Mzansi Magic, the 'Gush'Lyf' promises to deliver adrenaline-fuelled action, showcasing the lives and skills of four expert drivers, including Gift Zulu (Ngozi), Nalo Dzhivhuho (Dankie Darlie aka Queen of Smoke), Mpho Dirolo (Poroza) and Collie Golden (Mzet aka Moruti), as they push the limits of speed and agility. Each of these cast members will be showcasing their personalities, personal lives and battle skills. Spinning is a form of motorsport that involves driving cars at speed in a circular motion, performing stunts, and even getting in and out of the vehicle while it is in motion. This high-octane sport requires a unique combination of driving skills, precision and showmanship. In South Africa, spinning is more than just a stunt, it is a culture, a niche art form that demands control, a deep understanding of the vehicle, and most importantly, finesse. And showing off is part of it all. The technique and creativity that go into each spin are art on their own, and the BMW 325i is the perfect canvas for this art. With its sleek design and powerful engine, this classic model is a favourite among car enthusiasts and spinners. In 2024, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, revealed that he aims to make spinning one of the 'biggest sports' in South Africa. 'There is one promise I'm going to make ... spinning and stance (car customisation) is not a crime. I'm so excited, because I promised that spinning will be recognised and I'm going to make spinning one of the biggest sports in this country,' he said. Spinning originated in the township of Soweto in the late 1980s and was performed by gangsters at funerals to honour the deceased. It is now a recognised motorsport where people gather at race tracks around the country, where they watch car spinning take place. 'Gush'lyf' is set to premiere on Thursday, August 7, on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) at 8pm.