Walaza looks to stay put despite rising star

South African sprint sensation, Bayanda Walaza, will stay in Pretoria despite receiving several offers to go and study overseas next year.

The 18-year-old was part of the national 4x100m relay team that won the silver medal at the Olympic Games in Paris last month. He also went on to secure gold in the 100m and 200m events at the World Athletics Under 20 Championships in Peru last week.

The matriculant at Curro Hazeldean in Pretoria has only written one prelim exam between the Olympics and the global junior championships and missed three other exams due to his recent commitments on the track.

With his congested schedule, he is set to write his next prelim on Thursday, just two days after returning home from Peru.

“For now, it’s causing a lot of stress, but I know I’m going to catch up. I have the facilities to do that, and I have teachers who are supporting me, as well as family and friends. So, I think it will go very well,” Walaza said after arriving home earlier today.

Speaking to the media, the 18-year-old confirmed that he’d turned down opportunities to go and study in the USA next year in order to stay with his coach, Thabo Matebedi.

“I’m planning to go to Tuks (University of Pretoria), where I’ll be doing logistics, and I’ll carry on my schooling while I’m continuing with athletics,” he said.

“I’m not going to change coaches because that can cause a lot of difficulties. It’s better to chill with the coach that’s working for me. He made me get two gold medals, and silver at the Olympics, so why must I leave him?

“That’s one of the reasons, but there are a lot of reasons why I want to stay in Pretoria. I love it.” Written by Ntsako Mkhari