Former Nemato rower gives back

BUHLE Ngcelwane, the former chairman of Nemato Change a life (NCAL), is a young man anxious to begin his studies at university, but is currently spending a gap year helping younger NCAL members with maths and science.

Ngcelwane began rowing in 2007 when he was just nine years old.

“He was a strong rower,” recalled NCAL founder Jan Blom.

“His best rowing result was a second place in the under-19 A double with Lindokuhle Nikelo at the national Buffalo Regatta, and his 2013 club bests in the seven-strokes and 250m on the rowing ergometer still stand.”

In 2014, he was elected chairman of NCAL.

“He was an active chairman who organised many activities to help members improve mindset and behaviour,” Blom said.

Ngcelwane finished high school last year with good results, but was unfortunately not accepted to study, which forced him into a gap year.

“He is volunteering in our organisation, with a focus on teaching in our maths class,” explained Blom.

Next year, Ngcelwane hopes to study at the University of Western Cape, where he wants to enrol for a bachelor’s degree in dentistry.

Alternatively, he wants to enrol at the University of Johannesburg for a degree in biokinetics.

Ngcelwane said being involved in NCAL had helped him gain many skills, including computer skills and learning to speak fluently in public in a language that is not his home tongue.

“It has also helped him to become the role model and leader he is to the younger members today,” Blom said.

Ngcelwane praised all elements of the NCAL programme, especially the maths class and sports.

Participating in competitions had exposed him to interacting with people of different races comfortably; something he had not experienced before, he said.

His message to the younger members of NCAL is: "Work hard and let no one limit your sky-high expectations.

“Help those who need help and you will be blessed and find success in school.” played our internal Megabucks competition with our usual good turnout for a Tuesday.

Jackie Kriel’s team of trips Jean Churchley and Jacky Watson were in top form to beat Pieter Stegmann’s team 10 / +12 to take home the “big bucks”. Runner up on the day was Rob Owsley’s team who beat David Banks’s team of 4’s - 10 / +3.

Last Thursday we played the 5th round of our inter club, Kenton / Kowie and the ladies’ Bess Tweedie Competitions at the Kowie Club. The ladies each won one game with Kenton on a positive shot profit of 4.

The overall position has Kenton well in the lead on 14 points and a positive shot profit of 20 to Kowie’s 6 points with one round to go we have no chance of catching up. In the men’s section Kowie won two, peeled one and lost one for 5 points and a positive shot profit of 15 and Kenton with 3 points. The overall position Kowie has 24 points with a positive shot profit of +15 to Kenton’s 16 points with one round to play at Kenton in November. Kenton has the chance to catch us but they will need to win all four matches. There was an overflow of tabs bowlers playing on B green the afternoon.

On Saturday afternoon we played our Ocean Basket-sponsored competition with six rinks of trips playing 25 ends of two bowl trips. Today’s winner was Mike Tomlinson’s trip of Tony Brown and Helise Hauting (from Dewetsdorp) who beat Stephen Minnaar’s trip 2 / +13 with a shot aggregate of 1.92 to pip the runner up Rob Owsley who beat Eddie Hosek 2 / +13 for a shot aggregate of 1.61. Both winner and runner up took home Ocean Basket vouchers. Thank you for your continued support.

This weekend all the EA clubs will be contesting the Buco Trips competition at the Port Alfred Club. This competition each club enters three teams made up of Men’s A and B and a ladies’ team which will start at 1pm on Saturday (two sessions) and Sunday (three sessions).

Duties for the week October 31 – November 6: Duty list is being prepared and will be available at the club this week.