Happy Mother’s Day!

Leading women in sport have spoken passionately about their moms as we celebrated Mother’s Day on Sunday, 10 May 2020.

Mothers have played an integral part in the sporting careers of many athletes including Springbok Women’s captain, Babalwa Latsha: “My mother is my number-one supporter!

“She always has something encouraging to say, she is my pillar of strength whenever I need comforting and need re-boost in motivation.

“She has always been on the stands when she could cheering me on even when things don’t go my way or the way that I would have wanted them to go, she would always be a shoulder to cry on.”

Leading amateur golfer, Kaiyuree Moodley, shares how her mom, renowned broadcast Devi Sankaree Govender, sparked her interest in golf.

“My mom basically started my golfing career. I started golf when I was about four-and-a-half or five-years-old, and at the time we were living in Durban. One day she came home with a plastic set of golf clubs from Pick ‘n Pay. I was hitting the plastic ball from one end of the house to the other, and I absolutely loved the sport from there.

Thank you @KaiGolfHQ … you and your brother are the greatest magic I have ever conjured up! https://t.co/0EtDv6d0ey

— DeviSankareeGovender (@Devi_HQ) May 10, 2020

“My mom was there to support me throughout my whole school journey – she never let me miss a deadline once which I am very grateful for,” says Moodley.

“As sports people we are never really at school, we always have other commitments and I was definitely not at school, so my mom was there to support me throughout my whole school journey – she never let me miss a deadline once which I am very grateful for!

“She taught me valuable life lessons which I will never forget. Mom, Happy Mother’s Day! I love you and I hope you have a great day.”

South Africa’s golden girl, Tatjana Schoenmaker, points out that her mom’s unconditional love endures regardless of how the swim champ performs in the pool.

“Knowing that every single time I get out of the pool – good or bad – she will be there with opened arms giving me love and that is honestly the best support anyone could ask for.” – champion swimmer, Tatjana Schoenmaker

Springbok Women’s Team Manager and the first captain of the Springbok women’s team in 2004, Nomsebenzi Tsotsobe shares about her deep relationship with her Eastern Cape pioneering sports activist mom, Dorothy Tsotsobe:

“She has played a major role in my life and career. Not only as a mother-daughter relationship but I would like to believe that she has been a colleague, a best friend and a father.

“She is one of the most important and valuable person in my life. Mama, please stay as calm as you are, intelligent, being an adviser to me and I appreciate you in my life and I cannot think of anyone if I have problems to go to, you have been a King and Queen in your castle.”

Junior tennis player, Kaitlyn Ramduth, credits her mom for supporting her career and guiding her along the way.

“I have had the support and guidance of the most important person in my life – my mom! My mom has shared every step of my journey, she has been my rock, and she has been by my side every step of the way.

“From younger years I recall my mom would sit beside the court through every tennis lesson. She would be there and attentively watching every ball I hit, and I cannot remember a day when she ever looked bored, or a day when she was too tired to do it.

“She has taught me to always remember to put God first in my life, and all thanks belongs to Him, for my achievements and my talents.” – Junior Tennis Player, Kaitlyn Ramduth

“My mum has always kept me grounded. She has taught me to always remember to put God first in my life and all thanks belongs to Him – for my achievements and my talents – it is for these reasons and many more that I am so proud to have my mum.”

Photo 1 Caption: Springbok Women’s captain, Babalwa Latsha, says that her mother has been her number one supporter and been her pillar of strength. Photo: Babalwa Latsha

Photo 2 Caption: Leading amateur golfer, Kaiyuree Moodley, shares how her mom sparked her interest in golf. Photo: Frennie Shivambu