Tiana a hot-shot on soccer pitch
UP and coming soccer star Tiana Balakisten,
was selected for the KZN U14 Schools team which participated in the recent Friendship Games tournament at Bedfordview Country Club in Gauteng.
Reflecting on the experience, Tiana said: “I was nervous at first especially as we were going up against girls who were very talented. I was also excited to be playing the game which I am truly passionate about.
“It was fun and good memories were made. My soccer skills improved and I learned from the others.” LIFE is unpredictable and surprises happen regularly. The world of sport is no exception as a number of athletes retire prematurely. In some cases, this happens because they are forced to retire due to serious injury. In other cases, it happens because they get burnt out. The following are five sportsmen who quit too early.
THE former Japanese star is widely regarded to have been one of the best players to have ever come out of the Asian continent. He starred in the Italian Serie A and English Premier League during his heyday. But he decided to hang up his boots in 2006, aged just 29, after falling out of love with the game. He has since taken to modelling and travels the world doing just that. MEYIWA’S retirement is the most heartbreaking on this list. The 19-year-old was regarded as one of the best up and coming football talents in South Africa, playing for Kaizer Chiefs. Unfortunately a car accident in late 2018 left him with a spinal cord injury which has consigned him to a wheelchair.
AS a bad guy, Edge was perhaps one of the most entertaining superstars in WWE history. The several times world heavyweight champion and
The KZN side were undefeated during the tournament and eventually won the final.
Tiana started playing football at the age of just 10 at Northdene Preparatory School.
Now in Grade 9, she currently plays for the U16 A side at Westville Girls High and was selected for the High District U14 team, as well as the KZN Coastal team.
In the future the UK-born schoolgirl hopes to return to the place of her birth and play for an English Premier League team.
Her father Nikki Balakisten said: “We are exceptionally proud of her achievements and we give praise to Jesus for his favour and grace upon her life as she is truly a blessing to us!”