Khaya’s Bryan puts Gamtoos in the spotlight
Khaya Katoo, a farmer from Patensie and member of Gamtoos Water, wants to burst with pride over his son, Bryan’s athletic achievements after his success at the recent u/20 World Championships in Peru. And he wants to attribute it to the support of the Gamtoos Valley.
“If I could, I would stand on the mountain and say thank you to the valley for your support and love”, says Khaya on the farm KAH between Hankey and Patensie.
Bryan, a matric student at Nico Malan High School in Humansdorp, took part in the 400m and 4x400m relay for which his team won a silver medal.
With the 400m Bryan was disappointed with a time slower than his personal best which did not allow him to qualify for the final. But Khaya says he did his best, considering that his last competition was in Cape Town in April this year. “I’m so glad I could be there to support him. I told him he could only be disappointed in the result, but not in himself. We lose together and we win together.”
Two days later, the disappointment was forgotten when Bryan and his team finished second in the 4x400m relay. “It was great to be there with the success too. I am so proud of him,” says Khaya. He says they were overwhelmed by calls and messages from the valley. “All those messages carried Bryan.”
Khaya says the fact that Bryan grows up here in the Valley and attends Nico Malan High School is what makes him successful. “Here he is well prepared for life and he receives so much love. This is the best place for his development as a sportsman and as a person.” There were also some farmers from the valley who made it financially possible for Bryan’s coach, Jannie van Niekerk, to travel with him to Peru.
Khaya was overwhelmed when a group of athletes and teachers from Nico Malan awaited them at the airport with banners in Gqeberha on their return from Peru. “It was like the cherry on the cake,” says Khaya with a big smile.
There are a few more events before the end of the year in Bloemfontein and Oudtshoorn and then his focus is on the African Championship in Mauritius next year. The next Olympics in Los Angeles may be the next target…
Bryan intends to study Bcom Agri and is still waiting to hear if he will join Potch, Tuks or NMU next year.
Khaya says Bryan should not focus on making athletics his career. “He has to study and hopefully one day he will farm with me.”
Khaya se Bryan sit Gamtoos in die kollig
Khaya Katoo, boer van Patensie en lid van Gamtoos Water, wil bars van trots oor sy seun, Bryan, se atletiekprestasies na sy sukses met die afgelope o/20 Wêreldkampioenskap in Peru. En hy wil dit toeskryf aan die ondersteuning van die Gamtoos Vallei.
“As ek kon, sou ek op die berg staan en vir die vallei sê dankie vir julle ondersteuning en liefde”, sê Khaya op die plaas KAH tussen Hankey en Patensie.
Bryan, ‘n matriekleerling aan Hoërskool Nico Malan op Humansdorp, het deelgeneem aan die 400m en 4x400m aflos waarvoor sy span ‘n silwermedalje losgehardloop het.
Met die 400m was Bryan teleurgesteld met ‘n tyd stadiger as sy persoonlike beste wat hom nie laat kwalifiseer het vir die finaal nie. Maar Khaya sê hy het sy beste gedoen, inaggenome dat sy vorige kompetisie laas in April vanjaar in Kaapstad was. “Ek is so bly ek kon daar langs die baan wees om hom te ondersteun. Ek het vir hom gesê hy kan net teleurgesteld wees in die resultaat, maar nie in homself nie. Ons verloor saam en ons wen saam.”
Twee dae daarna was die teleurstelling vergete toe Bryan en sy span tweede eindig in die 4x400m aflos. “Dit was wonderlik om ook daar te wees met die sukses. Ek is so trots op hom,” sê Khaya. Hy sê hulle was oorweldig deur oproepe en boodskappe van die valleimense. “Al daardie boodskappe het Bryan gedra.”
Khaya sê die feit dat Bryan hier in die Vallei grootword en in Hoërskool Nico Malan is, is wat hom suksesvol maak. “Hier word hy goed voorberei vir die lewe en hy ontvang soveel liefde. Dit is die beste plek vir sy ontwikkeling as sportman en as mens.” Dit was ook ‘n paar boere van die vallei wat dit finansieel moontlik gemaak het dat Bryan se afrigter, Jannie van Niekerk, ook saam met hom na Peru kon reis.
Khaya was oorstelp toe ‘n groep atlete en onderwysers van Nico Malan met baniere hulle op die lughawe in Gqeberha inwag met hul terugkeer uit Peru. “Dit was soos die kersie op die koek,” sê Khaya met ‘n groot glimlag.
Daar lê nog ‘n paar byeenkomste voor die einde van die jaar in Bloemfontein en Oudtshoorn voor en dan is sy fokus op die Afrika Kampioenskap in Mauritius volgende jaar. Die volgende Olimpiese spele in Los Angeles mag dalk die volgende mikpunt wees…
Bryan beoog om Bcom Agri te studeer en wag nog om te hoor of hy volgende jaar by Potch, Tuks of NMU gaan inval.
Khaya sê Bryan moet nie fokus daarop om atletiek sy loopbaan te maak nie. “Hy moet studeer en hopelik kom boer hy eendag saam met my.”