A young generation of skilled canoeists is cropping up
SHAUN Maphanga is the face of the Florida Lake Canoe Club. Literally.
A beer advert featuring a photograph of him competing in the iconic Dusi marathon — where in 2015 he ended third in the sub-veteran category and claimed a silver medal overall — is plastered around the club house.
That’s pretty impressive for a former yacht caretaker at the lake who was invited to try his hand at kayaking.
But his impact behind the scenes is equally critical, helping this marginal club to punch well above its weight, at least at school level.
Maphanga trains the coaches, MacDonald Nkosi and Malusi Nxumalo, who, in turn, mentor the children, where the next generation of gold is to be found.
They include sisters Kamillah and Ameerah Hank, who have both won medals at South African championship level, in sprint and marathon races.
The pair have amassed so many points from races that on their own they have pushed their school, Curro Aurora, into the top three of canoeing rankings in Gauteng.
Kamillah, 11, prefers the marathon, while nine-year-old Ameerah favours the sprints, the Olympic discipline.
“My toughest event is the marathon,” said Ameerah, to which dad Rowshaan retorted with a smile: “When she’s been out there too long she starts looking for someone to chat to.”
Canoeing has captured their attention more than the many other sports they do, such as netball, tennis, swimming and ballet and dancing, from hip-hop to tap.
“The coaches make it sound easy, even if it’s hard,” said Kamillah. “And they let us swim in the lake after training,” added Ameerah.
Both girls are capable swimmers and are keen to do the Midmar Mile next year.
Development at the Florida Lake club started more than a decade ago when club captain Jennie Dallas, who has 12 straight Fish River marathons under her belt, was asked by the Gauteng Canoe Union to train new canoeists in exchange for some boats, paddles and life jackets.
“The first kids couldn’t swim at all and were panicking stupid when they fell in the water.”
It takes time for learners to get the balance right, Dallas explained. “We have a lot of kids starting, but many give up after a few attempts.”
Every Sunday is open to newcomers at the club, as long as they bring their parents to sign indemnity.
“We’ve got talent here,” said Maphanga. “They started not so long ago and look where they are now. We just need help financially.”
Nxumalo, who was brought into canoeing when he was staying at an orphanage, said lack of money could be an issue.
He said: “If you can’t afford to go on the trips to compete, you lose interest.”
Dallas said Bridgitte Hartley’s Olympic bronze medal in the women’s K1 500m sprint at London 2012 had sparked an interest in the sport.
“There is definitely more interest. And we’ve got more support from the department of sport and Lotto, who gave us R200 000 to buy boats,” she said.
“We have some small sponsorships too, but there are always costs. The travel is expensive.”
❛ Coaches make it sound easy, they let us swim in the lake after training