For Andrew and Matthew Naudé, kickboxing has always been a shared journey. The twins, learners at Sunningdale Primary School, have been selected for the South African National Kickboxing Squad and will represent the country at the WAKO World Youth Kickboxing Championships in Jesolo, Italy, in September.

The achievement follows years of dedication, discipline and hard work, with the brothers training side by side as they pursued their dream of competing on the international stage.

A dream years in the making

From their earliest days in the sport, Andrew and Matthew have pushed each other to improve, earning numerous medals, trophies and accolades along the way.

Now, they have the opportunity to wear the green and gold and compete against the world’s best young kickboxers from more than 60 countries.

Their father, Jannie Naudé, said the selection is the result of years of commitment and sacrifice.

“Andrew and Matthew have worked incredibly hard for this opportunity. They have trained tirelessly, supported each other through every challenge and never lost sight of their dream. Being selected to represent South Africa is a proud moment for our family and a reward for their dedication,” he said.

Self-funded challenge

While representing South Africa is a tremendous honour, the journey comes at a significant cost.

Unlike many international sporting events, participation in the championships is entirely self-funded, with no government support available to athletes.

The family is aiming to raise R87 500 per athlete, or R175 000 in total, to cover flights, visas, accommodation, transfers, official South African team kit, competition gear and entry fees.

The first payments to the South African Kickboxing Association are due in June and July, making fundraising an urgent priority.

“Every rand donated brings the boys one step closer to Italy. We are incredibly grateful for every contribution, sponsorship and message of support. No donation is too small because every rand helps to gets them there,” said Naudé.

Community support needed

The twins are calling on the Blouberg community, local businesses and sports supporters to help them realise their dream.

Funds raised will go directly towards ensuring the brothers can compete at the world championships and proudly represent South Africa on the international stage.

Supporters can contribute through the twins’ BackaBuddy campaign or make a donation through the Melkies Who Care NPC initiative, which offers qualifying donors a Section 18A tax certificate.

For Andrew and Matthew, the trip to Italy is about more than competition. It represents years of sacrifice, determination and a shared ambition to test themselves against the best in the world.

They are not only fighting for medals, but for each other, their family and their country.

With the support of their community behind them, the twin warriors are hoping to take the next step in their remarkable journey and make South Africa proud on the world stage.

For more information on how to donate, visit their backabuddy campaign.

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