When seven-year-old Oluthando “Olu” Nkosinkulu charges down the rugby field with the ball in his hands, spectators quickly forget he is playing with only one leg.
On 16 August, the Hankey Primary School learner not only captained his u/6 rugby team to victory but also scored three spectacular tries and was named player of the day.
Reflecting on the big moment as he was about to score his first try, Olu said that he managed to get past his opponents quickly.
“Once I got past my opponents, I was ready to score my try, and that was the best thing,” said Oluthando.
He went on to score two more tries with his team winning against Jeffreys Bay’s Victory Christian School.
Elaborating on his disability, Natasha said that when she was seven months pregnant, doctors discovered that her son’s foot was connected underneath his knee and warned that the baby might not survive.
“I went to the hospital for scans, and that is where they told me that they didn’t think Olu was a normal baby, and they didn’t think that when I gave birth that Olu would make it because they believed that he was an abnormal foetus,” said Natasha.
Having suffered three miscarriages before Oluthando, Natasha refused to terminate the pregnancy.
“I decided to put all my trust in God, so terminating my pregnancy was a no-go,” said Natasha.
She said that when Oluthando was born, doctors confirmed he had no other disabilities except for his short leg.
On 4 August 2018, a day before his first birthday, he underwent surgery where part of his foot was amputated and the leg was lengthened to accommodate a future prosthesis.
Despite early medical predictions that Oluthando would never walk, Natasha’s unwavering support has helped him thrive.
“I have not brought my child up thinking he has a disability. I tell him to live his life and enjoy any sport that he can play,” says Natasha.
Furthermore, when she approached the school at the beginning of the year about Oluthando’s participation in sport, her message was clear: “Let him play rugby; let him play any sport that he puts his heart into. Unless there’s a rule that says that he’s not allowed to play with one leg, let’s just give him a chance and see what happens.”
That chance paid off spectacularly on 16 August.
During his second try, Natasha said that she was on the opposite side of the field shouting for him to go to the try line.
She said that she believed his adrenaline kicked in and he realised that he could do it again.
Oluthando’s passion for rugby runs deep, inherited from his father, Thanduxolo Archie Nkosinkulu, who played for the Hankey Villagers rugby team.
She said that her son is a devoted Springboks fan, with Cheslin Kolbe as his favourite player.
“His Spotify playlist only has Springbok-themed songs or anything to do with Cheslin Kolbe or the Springboks,” said Natasha.
Oluthando’s talent extends beyond rugby as he also competes in athletics using crutches.
“We’ve told him before, if you don’t want to play sport, you don’t have to, but he always says that he wants to participate,” said Natasha.
She said that Oluthando loves to tackle and uses every opportunity he gets to tackle his opponents.
“Olu’s strength as a rugby player is his heart, to be honest. If your heart is in it, you are in it. I would say his strong point in rugby is defence and tackling,” said Natasha.
She said that they are currently working to secure a new prosthetic leg for Oluthando, who has outgrown his previous one.
They are also establishing a trust fund to ensure his ongoing medical needs are met as he grows.
“We know that Olu will always need help and always need medical attention when it comes to his leg and fittings,” said Natasha.
Looking ahead, she acknowledges that rugby will become more challenging as Olu gets older and opponents become stronger and more strategic.
However, she has no doubt about her son’s resilience.
