East-Rand-boys reach for the stars

Nkosinathi Dauwa is one of the two boys from the SAGDB programme in Ekurhuleni joining the Ernie Els & Fancourt Foundation this year

For a while now, the general consensus at the South African Golf Development Board has been that Bongani Khoza and Nkosinathi Dauwa of Ekurhuleni are exceptionally talented and have the potential to go all the way in the world of golf.

Whether you are the world's best golfer or a teen prodigy, the road to the top takes patience, experience, commitment and hard, hard work though. That road is made all the more arduous when you throw in school, peer pressure and coming from a disadvantaged background.

Imagine then the joy when these two East Rand teenagers learned of their selection to the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation (EEFF) for 2010.

"There were 80 really good golfers from the East Rand competing to get into the Ernie Els and Fancourt Foundation and I am really proud to have been selected," said 17-year-old Khoza, a regular winner who was named the Best Player of the Year for the East Rand after winning the SAGDB's Development Monthly Tournament at Springs Golf Club in December 2009.

"This will take a lot of stress off our parents, especially financially, as the Foundation will assist us with school fees, entry fees, travel expenses, coaching and equipment. It is going to make a world of difference for Nkosinathi and me."

For the next year the matric pupil at Phulong Secondary School in Springs and 15-year-old Dauwa from Daveyton will have to prove themselves, both scholastically and on the golf course, before re-evaluation for 2011. At the end of the year, all the students in the program are evaluated and those who have met the criteria will have their sponsorship is extended for another year.

"Because of our restructuring for 2010 we have been able to offer more talented youngsters membership of the foundation," explained Foundation CEO Hannes van Niekerk. "We are entering an exciting phase in the Foundation's 10-year history and we are looking forward to providing golf and education opportunities to these deserving youngsters, many of whom have very little at all in the way of resources."

"It was a tough decision to close our hostel at Fancourt. However, the benefits of being able to take on and support more members far outweigh the extra work in having our members decentralised around the country. Our golf and education programs are firmly entrenched now and we are well equipped to make a significant impact on these junior golfers' lives."

The EEFF can now support nearly 40 children financially and give them as many opportunities as possible to grow through the coaching program, by playing in more local and national tournaments and by honing their life skills while they live at home with their parents.

"By running the program on a yearly basis we aim to encourage the learners to work hard. We also invite the parents to support and motivate the learners and we give them the responsibility of retaining their sponsorship," Van Niekerk added.

Regional coach Sam Mnguni has been Khoza's mentor since he joined the SAGDB four years ago, when he began learning his skills on the uneven soccer fields at the KwaThema Sports Complex. Although he graciously accepts the praise for his hard work, Khoza is quick to credit his family's support and his coach's guidance for all his achievements.

"My parents support me 100% all the time and coach Sam has been like a third parent to me," said Khoza, who will be practising at Pollack Park this year. "He has taught me from scratch and due to his efforts and my determination we got me to where I am now. The next year is going to be tough, but with my parents and coach Sam on my side, I am looking forward to the challenge."

Dauwa, a grade nine learner at Vezukhono High School in the Twatwa township of Daveyton, is the son of former professional Theo Dauwa.

Now a member of the Lake Benoni Country Club, courtesy of the EEFF, Dauwa is also no stranger to the winner's circle. In 2009, he won eight of the 12 SAGDB Monthly Tournaments. In September last year, Dauwa represented the Eastern Gauteng U14 team at Modderfontein Golf Club and won all his games against Central Gauteng, Northern Gauteng and Mpumalanga in the afternoon singles.

"I am really looking forward to this year," said Dauwa. "Golf is an individual sport and you are constantly testing yourself against the other players in the field and against the golf course you are playing."

"It takes determination, practice and paying attention to what the coaches teach me. This year will be about proving myself, both at school and on the golf course. If I don't, I am out and will have only myself to blame."