Shayene Fritz: The South African who became the world champion in Sunuka Five gold and three silver medals made Shayene a South African star...
Shayene Fritz: The South African who became the world champion in Sunuka
Five gold and three silver medals made Shayene a South African star.
A South African girl who grew up in violence became a world champion in the sport that "saved her life".
Shayene Fritz, 22, recounts her youth in Cape Town's Lavender Hills and how sports saved her.
Five gold and three silver medals made Shayene a South African star.
"As a child in Lavender Hill, you will see many things you must deal with. "You will never enjoy your childhood like other children," she told TRT Afrika.
Gangsters and pregnant girls frequent the neighbourhood. "Growing up in a neighbourhood where you see these things makes it hard to become something," she remarked.
Shayyene didn't let her neighborhood's terrible behaviour impact her.
The third-year Stellenbosch University student remembers when her mother was sacked and moved from a three-bedroom flat to a one-bedroom in Lavender Hill when she was nine.
Unpleasantness followed. In 2018, thugs stabbed Shayyene's brother.
My brother argued with a neighbourhood mobster. She said other gangs wanted to kill him because of that.
If you grow up in such a neighbourhood, you avoid these people.
You don't perceive it until a problem connects you. Shayyene was shot while walking home from college.
Shooting began then. We ran to another house till the gunshots ceased. Lavender Hill kids are used to hearing such things.
Even in bed, you will hear gunfire from nearby houses. "People expect that," she added.
Small Competition
Growing up in chaos, she went to Lavender Hill shops to see Sunuka.
She started playing Sunuka kacokan when she was nine years old.
She pays 10 Rand (0.50 dollars) for ten rounds and doesn't know how much she spends.
"We began a neighbourhood Sunuka store game. "We play the League of Friendship and try to beat men," said Shaiyene.
Top players are seeing her growing skills.
I took me to compete with other shops in the friendly league. After a year, we joined the provincial league."
2015 was Shayyene's national title year. She ultimately earned another trophy for the women's team, which is significant.
"We won this cup again in 2016. First-year girl's team player. "We won the 2018 girls' cup, and I was the youngest," she remarked.
Since 2015, I've played national-level courage, which is hard to achieve. Shayene occasionally wants to work to play sports.
I saved $526 a year to play two tournaments. "My mother was unemployed, so we had to work," she claimed.
I sell lottery tickets. I've been collecting since 2014. Shayyene effortlessly raised 160 dollars for the huge Russian tournament.
She rarely eats at the playground.
She competed in the South African Sunuka Championships in Johannesburg last year from Cape Town. She had $10 and no idea how to get home after the game.
She joined the South African World Cup team in Morocco after placing 9th in her division, despite paying the full fee.
"Each of us got 500 Rand as a gift, which was enough to pay for my bus fare back home," added Shayyene.
I saved 40,000 Rand (2,100 USD) for Morocco. My son and I raffled meatballs. We sold them for $2."
Selling lotto tickets and meatballs won't make us enough money.