Self-motivation, passion, soccer loving brothers, a hardworking grandmother and a passionate teacher all played a part in an opportunity unfolding for a teenage girl from Brantwood.
Naylene Morgan, who is turning 14 soon, just started Grade 8 at TuksSport High School more than 1 000 km away. She received a full scholarship to the independent co-ed school that forms part of the High-Performance Centre of the University of Pretoria. It offers learners a unique sporting and learning environment.
Naylene was deputy head girl at Rouxville Primary School last year. Nathan Newman, teacher and soccer coach at Rouxville, says Naylene is an example of not allowing circumstances to define who you are. Despite a “challenging background”, he says, she placed in the top 10 in her grade academically throughout primary school.
In 2020, her grade six year, she became the school’s first ever Western Province athlete when she excelled in long jump.
Naylene and her brothers (one elder, one younger) are raised by their grandmother, Amelia Taute.
Taute says the children were aged 5, 3 and 1 when they were placed in her care due to circumstances that Naylene asked not to be disclosed.
As Taute’s husband was mostly absent she basically raised them as a single “mother”.
Taute remembers a very difficult time during which she had to travel to and from her job as an enrolled nurse at Groote Schuur Hospital with three little ones in tow. She says “the Lord continued to open doors. I got them into a crèche at the hospital school and they helped me out with a reduced fee”.
Taute says “coach Nathan” was another angel sent on their path. Newman realised Naylene’s potential and was willing to go the distance, she says.
“He managed to get out of her what she did not even realised she had within her. He gave her the self-confidence to bring the best out of her. With his help and support she could achieve provincial colours. She told me: ‘Ma, coach believes in me, and that made me believe in myself’.”
Taute says she always spoke “open and honestly” to teachers whom she asked to inform her of any behavioural changes. Newman, she says, was willing to walk a path with Naylene as he knew circumstances were not always ideal.
Taute says it was only when Naylene started at Rouxville, in Grade 3, that they discovered her athletic ability.
“They were very proud when she became the first in the school’s existence to represent WP.”
Naylene also started performing on the soccer field after Newman initiated a girls soccer team at the school.
Taute says Naylene’s love for soccer started at home. Being the only girl she would join her brothers and elder cousin whenever they played.
Newman says he and Rouxville’s principal, Serina Daniels, decided to make it their mission to get Naylene into the best possible high school.
He sent scholarship applications with a testimonial and videos of Naylene to various schools early in 2021.
“There were many rejections as the pandemic had a negative impact on many of the schools’ budgets,” Newman says.
“We finally were successful at Brackenfell High School where she received a scholarship based on her athletic ability.”
Naylene told Newman athletics was not her first choice.
“She had a hunger and desire to play soccer like her brothers. She has always been very passionate about having led the schools’ girl team, as well as playing with the boys team.”
In October last year Newman received a call from Sheryl Botes from TuksSport High School and head coach of the South Africa Football Association (Safa) Girls Soccer Academy – breeding ground for the national side, Banyana Banyana.
Naylene was invited for a trial and assessment in Pretoria.Taute says she is extremely grateful for Newman’s role to assist in securing financial support where she couldn’t make ends meet.
“He would be the one to engage with the principal and the school’s governing body.”
“Fortunately, with the support of the school, SGB, Mrs Daniels and myself, we were able to pay for her flight ticket to Pretoria,” says Newman.
He and Daniels accompanied Naylene to attend the assessment and interviews on 28 October. He received an email in December saying she was successful.
Naylene left for Pretoria on 9 January.
What puts Taute’s heart at ease having Naylene so far from home, is that she knows her granddaughter is self-motivated and hardworking.
She never had to peek over her shoulder to ensure homework was done.
“Naylene doesn’t allow circumstances to affect her – I think she just views it as a challenge to rise above.”
Taute says Naylene has sent a message that she is doing well.
“She sounds happy and is looking forward to the year ahead – especially the soccer.”
