Masixole Mkrakra, Silver Award Participant in The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment Programme and member of the Tiger Titan Cricket Club in Nolukhanyo Township outside Bathurst, received a standing ovation at the Sporting Heroes Dinner at Lord’s on Wednesday, 21 March 2012.
The dinner was attended by His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, The Earl of Wessex who is Chairman of the International Council of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Association and a number of well know international sporting heroes which included:
1. John Smit, former South African Springbok rugby captain;
2. Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, one of Britain’s greatest Paralympics athletes;
3. Derek Underwood, former English spin bowler;
4. Boris Becker, former international tennis star;
5. Zinzan Brooke, former All Blacks rugby player;
6. Tony Bullimore and Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, internationally renowned yachtsmen
Comment from Martin Scholtz, CEO of The President’s Award for Youth Empowerment, who accompanied Ross Mc Creath (the founder of the Tiger Titans Cricket Club) and Masixole to London:
It was a privilege being at Lord’s to hear Masixole reflect on the impact of the Award Programme and the Tiger Titans on his life. He is a humble young man with a deep sense of self and he delivered his speech with confidence and poise! He received a standing ovation – a man next to me had tears in his eyes.
Masixole is a symbol of the impact of the Award Programme on the life of a young person in South Africa – he is a remarkable young man and we hope to see him back a Lord’s in the future – playing cricket for South Africa!
Whilst in London, Masixole also met with the South African High Commissioner, Dr Zola Sweyiya, at South Africa House.
The trip to London was made possible by the International Award Association’s World Fellowship, and British Airways.
