SWARTKOPS Primary School headmaster, Lwandile Aba, is described as an all-rounder when it comes to school sport.
Aba earned recognition and respect, not only in the school and community that he serves, but also in the national sports fraternity because of his instrumental role in the development of grassroots sport.
Aba takes part in the training and sports development of his learners and has many responsibilities in sport, from local level to national level.
Aba said his love of sport began when he took part in primary school athletics inter-house meetings, but it was not clear whether he had the potential to become a sports star one day.
During his primary school years at Seymour Junior Secondary, Aba competed against older athletes in 800m and 1 500m races.
When he attended Lawson High School in Fort Beaufort, doing Form 2 or Standard 7 during those years, he played No. 10 in the rugby senior team, and was the team’s star player.
Aba lost four years of education when he participated in the anti-apartheid struggle for equal education for all. As he was passionate about sport, he played for Hungry Lions RFC in Seymour.
He commended his side’s members, his elder brother, Eric Ntsikelelo Aba, who played scrum-half for Transvaal Rugby Union and his head coach, Phumzile Jam, for motivating him.
He played for Home Defenders in Fort Beaufort in VERU League, guiding his club to the league title after winning their night game against University of Fort Hare.
He stated that he did excellently in his academics at Lawson High School. He was also one of the star karate students.
He stated that he followed the philosophy of a ‘healthy body, healthy mind’.
After he matriculated, he worked at Kirkwood Prison as a correctional officer.
Then he was registered with the Cape College of Education.
He continued playing rugby for the college senior team and running middle distances, but his main sports code was karate under the late sensei, Thembani Binqela.
When he started teaching at Hendrik Kanise School in Alicedale, he was the athletics coach and rugby coach.
Then at Archie Mbolekwa Higher Primary in Grahamstown, he developed rugby and athletics. His headmaster, Zola Mothabane of Archie Mbolekwa Primary, supported Aba.
In Motherwell, Aba was a teacher at Elundini Primary, with his principal, Nomusa Zokufa- Mlahleki, and sports teachers, Nolitha Masiza and Siseko Tena, also giving him an immense support in rugby and athletics.
Aba helped many learners to become stars in rugby, track and field, road running and cross country. He holds many certificates that enable him to officiate from grassroots to international level.
Among his many top certificates, is one that he achieved at Nelson Mandela University in sports management and administration in 2007, as well a certificate from the University of Pretoria to develop learners to be ready for sport and to encourage mass participation.
He also mentioned the certificate that his principal at Elundini Primary awarded him for his dedication to extramural activities. He is currently an athletics and rugby coach at Swartkops Primary. He lost his 36-year-old son in a car accident in 2019.
“Despite the tragic death of my son, I bounced back to carry on with sport.
“As a husband and a father, I spend little time with my family due to sport,” explained Aba.
