South African tennis star Lucas Sithole arrived back in the country this morning following his victory in the US OPEN QUAD, where he defeated world number one David Wagner in New York Sunday. The victory was Sithole’s maiden grand slam and was a first for an African and South African at a major international tennis final.
Reacting to the victory on Monday, Deputy Minister Hendrietta Bogopane-Zulu had this to say: “Lucas’ achievement is a clear indication that given the right support, disabled people can hold their own. As a department, we are very proud of his achievement and congratulate him on his outstanding performance and tipping the scale in South Africa and Africa’s favour.”
Sithole was welcome back by Wheelchair Tennis South Africa, Airports Company SA and the Department of Women, Children and People with Disabilities. Addressing the media today at the welcoming ceremony at OR Tambo International Airport, Deputy Minister Bogopane-Zulu said the rights of people with disabilities starts with recognition of their abilities. “It’s not only a celebration of Lucas and his family, but it’s a celebration for us in the department because when people with disabilities are given the necessary support, they can do anything,” she said.
President of Tennis SA, Bongani Zondi, said the sport was proud to have a champion at last. “There are lots of things that we are doing in tennis, and we are proud that the whole team has been consistent in terms of developing wheelchair tennis in South Africa. We are highly regarded in terms of what we do in wheelchair tennis, which is to keep producing more players”.
“I thank the whole team of Wheelchair South Africa. It was my first time playing in a grand slam, it was not easy, but I played my game as usual. I am very honoured today to be a champion, and I trust that there are many more (victories) to come,” Sithole said during his brief address in the airport’s media centre.
Sithole’s coach, Holger Losch, said “Our relationship with ACSA started nine years ago. It’s been an inspirational relationship and as Wheelchair SA, it has enabled us to live our dream. We have moved from just three players we had then, to a team we have today. Lucas had a tough role ahead of him, but de didn’t just win the tournament, he beat the top three players.”
A group of fifteen children from Filadelphia special school in Soshanguve, were present to welcome back Sithole, who is a former student at the school.
