Ms Kholosa Mthikazi Biyana and Ms Nontuthuko Shongwe. Excellence in the Field of Play earns CHS Three Prestigious Scholarships
What does a national women’s soccer team player, a Sharks Ladies Rugby team member and a basketball player have in common?
In the case, three College of Health Sciences’ students Ms Kholosa Mthikazi Biyana (Bachelor of Sports Science), Mr Mthokozisi Mpendulo Sibongakonke Masondo (Bachelor of Sports Science) and Ms Nontuthuko Shongwe (Bachelor of Occupational Therapy), have been awarded the Prestige Sports Scholarship Award, an accolade awarded to students who have played sport at provincial, national or international level in the year immediately before registration with the Institution.
‘I am very happy that I got the scholarship. It could have been someone else, I thank God and I am grateful,’ said an excited Biyana, a football player who has had call-ups to the women’s national soccer team.
‘This means I need to balance both football and my studies as I cannot afford to slip. I want to graduate, play football and hopefully someday I will be someone’s role model too,’ she continued.
Biyana is grateful to the scholarship funders, ‘Without them I wouldn’t have gotten the scholarship. My family is happy for me and they motivate me to keep working hard.’
She started playing football in the dusty streets of Clarkebury a small village in Ngcobo, Eastern Cape, where she lived with her parents and three siblings.
She has been to two Banyana Banyana camps and next month she will be competing at the World Student Games in Taipei. She also played at World Student Games in South Korea in 2015.
Shongwe who plays for UKZN Ladies Rugby club and for the Sharks Ladies Rugby Team said she was grateful for the scholarship.
‘It gives me joy and a peace of mind to know my fees are taken care of,’ said Shongwe. The scholarship for me means so much because university fees are impossible to cover, and with this at least I know that I can carry on studying whilst also participating in my passion which is sports,’ she said.
She thanked the funders of the scholarship for giving her and other recipients an opportunity at education and sports, ‘This is a great way to impact a person’s life by giving them a chance at two of the most important parts of their lives.’
Her family is equally happy and very proud of her achievement. Shongwe’s future plans include working as an Occupational Therapist before pursuing another degree.
Faith keeps Shongwe going, ‘I have strong faith in God and His plans for me, so even when school and sports gets too hectic, I work hard and push to be better every day knowing in the end I will be successful and get to where I am meant to be.’