Lowvelder scores his dream temporary job
MBOMBELA - Local chef Zander Roos (21) is heading to Qatar soon, after being the only candidate selected from Mpumalanga to work as a chef at the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022.
Roos will land in Doha, Qatar, on November 1, where he will stay while working at the Soccer World Cup until his return to South Africa on December 16. He was selected as one of the 90 chefs out of over 1 000 candidates from across the country, and was the only one to be selected from this province.
Roos, who matriculated at Hoërskool Nelspruit in 2020, started his chef's journey in 2021 when he enrolled at the Chefs Training & Innovation Academy (CTIA Nelspruit Campus). He said, however, that he knew from early childhood days that he had a love of cooking and baking.
“When I was a little boy around three years old, my mum would give me pots and pans and I would pretend to cook,” he said. “The first thing I ever baked was one of those premix muffins when I was about nine years old. My parents have been extremely supportive of me.”
He said it was not until he was in Grade 10 and had to choose his subjects that he decided he might want to start his career in the world of food. He chose hospitality studies as one of his subjects, taught by long-time hospitality studies teacher, Erna Janse van Rensburg.
“I already knew the basics about baking, but we learnt more about the kitchen and how things operate, and I enjoyed it so much. That is when I decided I would enrol at the CTIA.
“I started my studies in 2021. This year we focused on the culinary side of things, and now I am busy gaining experience.”
Roos said he worked at Christie’s at 32 on Russell in December, and is currently training at the Steiltes SPAR bakery.
Speaking about his upcoming work in Qatar, he said he was incredibly excited and that it would also be the first time he will leave the country.
“Interviews to work as a chef for the
World Cup in Qatar were held in Durban, Johannesburg and Cape Town. Over 1 000 students applied and only 90 were selected.
“I had my interview in June this year, and received word in August that I was chosen. I was super excited. I thought there was a 50/50 chance of me being chosen.
“They were interviewing five people at a time, and we only got a minute or so each to motivate why we should be chosen. I was the only candidate in the interview who had both culinary and pastry training, so I feel that was an advantage for me.”
Roos said he was prepared for his first trip overseas, working for the Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022.
“I am very excited and so are my parents. We will be working at the various stadiums during the World Cup.”
Roos said that once he returns, he would share all his stories about his adventures.