Merebank karateka finishes third in Namibia • Tabloid newspapers

A Merebank Secondary School pupil made her country very proud recently when she represented South Africa as part of the Protea team at the UFAK Region South Championships in Swakopmund, Namibia. She finished third in her division.

Nataniah Naidu (17) is a brown belt in karate and a student of Ninfu ShitoRyu in Merebank. She came third in her division in the kumite under 48kg category and will receive her Protea Colours at an elegant awards ceremony on Saturday 20th July.

Nataniah said that karate has made her aware of her strengths and weaknesses and has given her tremendous self-confidence.

She said: “I started karate at a young age because I was shy and bullied at school. My parents thought this sport would play an important role in my development. Karate is my passion and has developed me into the person I am today. I am now strong, confident and physically fit. I continue to train to improve and hope to one day compete in the Olympics or the World Championship.

“Apart from karate, I enjoy singing, drawing and spending time with my family. Sometimes I get the chance to speak up in church. I am thankful for my family, who are my biggest pillars of support. My brother, Rylee, who is also a karateka and a KZN team athlete, is my biggest supporter. He spends many hours training and assisting me. My grandmother is also at every tournament and I am blessed to have her in my life.”

Nataniah pays tribute to Shihan Craig, Renshi Brando Pillay and Sensei Njabulo Mthembu for their dedication and support in building and uplifting the youth of the community and for their guidance, support, training and coaching so that she could make her country proud.

Nataniah’s mother, Keroshnie, who also studied Ninfu ShitoRyu at a young age, said that enrolling her children in karate was the best decision she ever made. “I am so proud of Nataniah and all of her accomplishments. She is a respectful, humble, and hardworking child. I can’t wait to see what the future holds for her,” she said.

Nataniah’s father, Greg, who runs a fire protection company, said he was a proud parent because he saw all of Nataniah’s hard work pay off.

Shihan Craig Kisten Pillay of the Ninfu ShitoRyu Dojo said that while they have had numerous champions from KZN and South Africa over the past 50 years, Nataniah was only the second karateka and the first woman from the dojo to represent the country at an international event.

“Nataniah was hardworking, dedicated and had the discipline to excel at the highest level of karate,” he said.