Sport is in his blood

The Drakensberg Boys’ Choir will perform today at the V&A Waterfront Amphitheatre from 11.30am to 12pm. The choir has 24 members and will entertain with a taste of African folk music and a selection of pop classics from around the globe. Picture: Tanya Olsen Photography ZAID Booley of Cecil Road Primary School has walked away victorious at the annual Wesley-Cecil-Dryden Athletics Triathlon meeting at the Blackpool Soccer Field in Salt River.

Muhammad Zaid is a Grade 5 pupil, avid sportsman and excels on the soccer field.

His principal, S Mathews said: “Zaid represented Cecil Road Primary for the past four years at the annual athletics championships. Our school is very proud of this boy who, despite his achievements, remains humble – a quality that is admired above all. Academically he is doing very well.”

One of the Booley family’s neighbours who saw Zaid in action made a prophetic utterance: “I may not be around at the time when this boy competes for his WP and Springbok colours, but mark my words, we have here a national hero who is going to represent South Africa on the international arena and he is going to make us proud.”

Last year Zaid competed in the 50m and 80m sprints, taking first position in each.

He was also a star performer in the under-10 relay, assisting his team in achieving the top spot.

“This year he competed in the in the 80m and 100m sprints for under-11, winning both events as well as the under-11 relay for boys,” said a proud Mathews.

Zaid’s mother, Rafiqa, was an athlete par excellance at Factreton Primary and Windermere High School, where she also played netball and soccer.

Zaid’s father, Anwar, was a sprinter for Ragmania Primary in Woodstock and Trafalgar High in District Six, where he also played rugby. So it seems sporting talent is in Zaid’s DNA.

In April this year Zaid travels to London, where he will participate in the Manchester Tournament Cup.