Managing and coaching young athletes must be among the most challenging yet rewarding duties a person can hold. Teenagers are complex beings who require a great deal of care and assistance.
After a successful exhibition match on December 29 at Huddle Park Golf & Recreation in Linksfield, Johannesburg, Raymond Chauke, the manager of 16-year-old golf prodigy Tokollo Dhlamini, discussed the difficulties he has faced since entering the position.
“The difficulties of supervising a 16-year-old girl stem from the fact that she is in the adolescent stage, is susceptible to peer pressure, and is a famous golfer. “You are dealing with a girl child above all else,” Chauke stated.
“These are the attributes that are connected with how to cope with celebrity, peer pressure, and the loss of her baby sister two weeks prior to the game in Kenya – so it is difficult to the point that you must be a manager, a father, and a friend simultaneously. All of this necessitates switching between various characters until everything is aligned.
“Another difficulty in working with a young girl is that she has dreams, ambitions, and plans; therefore, it is essential to support her, regardless of how difficult the situation may be.”
The lack of financial assistance from sponsors places the young athlete at a disadvantage, according to Chauke, 41, who provides financial assistance to the kid.
Supporting golf is costly, and there are no sponsors on board at the moment. “Imagine being a young black girl residing in a back room in the township; she is already at a disadvantage,” he remarked.
Therefore, what inspires and sustains me is her potential and dedication, therefore I will continue to support her regardless of whether she has sponsors.
However, Chauke is appreciative of the donations received for their earlier expedition at the NCBA golf tournament in Kenya, where Dhlamini placed third.
“We recently returned from Kenya, and someone decided to fund us, for which we are quite happy. Another passenger paid for their airplane tickets. As a manager, it excites me to see that people are reaching out because they recognize the opportunity.”
Chauke is resolved to continue assisting the grade 11 student from Thembisa Commerce & Entrepreneurship School of Specialization despite a lack of sponsorship.
“I would never allow a lack of funding to prevent us from achieving our goals. For instance, I contribute personally by ensuring that she attends every game. It is difficult, but I would not miss a tremendous opportunity for lack of sponsors and funding,” he continued.
Dhlamini will compete in the Big 5 South African Open at Magalies Park Country Club in 2023. In April, the NCBA Uganda Open will follow the three-day tournament.
»Managing a young golf prodigy demands a change of personality – Chauke«