Hailing from a village in the Eastern Cape, Lamani has loved every moment of the 2024 Paralympics.
As South Africa’s only judoka in Paris, the 32-year-old is shining a spotlight on the rural village where he was raised, Cape {town} Etc reports.
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In 2011, the Eastern Cape village, Peddie, had a population of less than 5 000 people.
Peddie is situated approximately two hours away from Gqeberha and one hour away from East London. Lamani grew up with his blind mother, Vathiwe and his aunt, Neliswa.
‘I had to take my passport and a medal that I had previously won to the elder in the village because no one would believe that I could be representing South Africa,’ he commented.
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Lamani went on to say that locals had told him that his dream was impossible as he was a child who had been bullied in primary school before relocating to Khanyisa School for the Visually Impaired in Gqeberha.
It was in this school that he took up sport and began practicing as a track athlete for the visually impaired.
Following this, he took up judo. Lamani received his black belt seven years ago, around 25 years old.
Three years after the milestone, Lamani’s condition worsened and he was reclassified as blind as opposed to being visually impaired.
When commenting on his relationship with the judoka, coach Dirk Crafford said he viewed their relationship as that of father and son, as Ndyebo’s father has not been present in his life.
Crafford claims to be honoured to have been chosen as Lamani’s coach in Paris.
However, Ndyebo’s main coach, Sondisa Magajana, is the reason for much of his success.
When Ndyebo was called up for the national team, he stayed with Crafford as part of the family, for the six weeks leading up to the Paralympics.
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The Paris Paralympics serves as Lamani’s first, as in 2020 he contracted Covid-19 just before qualification. Despite this being his first Paralympics, Lamani has made many friends. He claims that it’s easy for him to make friends as he likes to talk.
Commenting on his visual impairment, Lamani stated that the condition is genetic, as both his grandfather and mother share the same impairment.
The Paralympic competitor has two children, a ten-year-old son who is also visually impaired, as well as a 14-year-old daughter who does not share the impairment.
Lamani is in contact with his mother every day and he continues to be the pride of the Peddie citizens, reports the DailyMaverick.
‘She wants to listen on the radio to the Paralympics, but if it’s not broadcasted on the radio I will phone her to tell her how my competition went,’ he said.
Crafford said that he received a phone call less than two months ago from Vicky Hlatshwayo, a coordinator at the South African Sports Confederation and the Olympic Committee, informing him that Lamani had been selected for Paris.
‘We were all very emotional,’ commented Crafford, who issued his thanks to Judo South Africa, the South African Sports Association for the Physically Disabled and everyone else who helped them make it to Paris.
‘We are both here to be ambassadors for South Africa and we will be doing our best to bring pride and joy to the country. And to Peddie, obviously.’
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Picture: Roger Sedres / Gallo Images
