On target for inter-provincial
JERRY Govender can hit the bull’s eye at will. That’s why he made the KZN Darts team that will play in an inter-provincial darts tournament at the UKZN Sports Centre (Westville campus) from July 10 to 14.
Chatting to POST this week, Govender said his interest in darts started by chance.
“Growing up on a farm in Inanda, I used to play around with slings and my aim was quite good. I also used to throw the spears that my African neighbours played with.
“Then I attended a sports day held in Inanda and decided to enter the darts competition after a friend gave me a quick rundown of the rules. To my surprise, I reached the finals of that tournament.”
Govender said that was when the bug bit and he started to play socially.
“About 17 years ago, a person I played against suggested I join his darts club in Merebank and so I started playing competitively. I lived in Phoenix and when I found there was a darts club there I decided to cut my travel expenses,” said Govender.
He said his trophy cabinet was filled with all the tournaments he had won over the years.
“Recently I began to donate trophies to clubs that host dart tournaments, and you should have seen the look on my wife’s face when I actually won them back,” he said.
The 57-year-old runs a family hardware business in Phoenix, where he keeps a dart board in his office.
“Whenever I have spare time at work, I’m throwing darts. I also have a darts room at home, where I spend about two hours every evening after supper.”
Phoenix Darts Association president Lucky Laljeeth praised Govender.
“Over the years, he has emerged our star player, by virtue of his passion and dedication to the sport. We are proud to have him playing for our club.”