Thabo Matebedi – Walaza’s SA Sports Awards nomination reflects his consistency
23rd August 2025
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African Coach of the Year Thabo Matebedi says Bayanda Walaza’s nomination for the SA Sports Awards is proof of his remarkable consistency over the past three years.
Walaza is shortlisted for the Youth/Junior Sport Star of the Year award alongside Noah Bennett and Simone Kruger.
The teenage sprint sensation has enjoyed an exceptional season, clocking multiple sub-10s both locally and internationally, qualifying for the World Senior Championships in the 100m and 200m events, and playing a key role in South Africa’s 4x100m relay team.
Matebedi told SABC Sport that since taking the youngster under his wing three years ago, Walaza has delivered every season without fail.
"I am proud and I mean there has been good consequences for the past three years. Remember three years ago just before he came to me, he went to Zambia as an African junior and then he got a bronze from 200m and then immediately after that he came to join me,” Matebedi said.
“He joined me and then he did well last year and then I had to keep that flame burning."
Although the year is far from over, with the World Senior Championships in Tokyo set for 13–21 September, Matebedi reflected on Walaza’s outstanding season so far.
The 19-year-old has already bagged three medals at the World Student Games in Germany and produced eye-catching performances during the European circuit.
"It was a very good year and I can tell you now, the year actually went as it was planned because after last year's World Junior Champs, the goal this year was to run sub-10 and then go to the World Senior Championships,” the coach explained. “The World University Games came as part of training, we knew about it but we wanted to use it as a part of training hence you see even when he won he knew it was fast times."
