It was all smiles as Lilyfontein School drum majorette sensation Sibulele Kentane walked away with the Mark Wilkins majorette of the year award at the Eastern Cape majorette provincial competition at the Gonubie Primary school grounds on Saturday.
Sibulele, 14, now in Grade 8, is not new to stardom, as last year she was selected to represent the senior and junior South African Majorette and Cheerleading Association national team, which will compete at the World Championships in Cape Town in September.
At the time, she was a primary school pupil and was the only majorette selected from the province.
She was chosen for the award by former Stirling majorette trainer Mark Wilkins, who is now based in Australia.
Lilyfontein head of drummies Amy Bezuidenhout said Sibulele’s success was due to her hard work and dedication.
To be selected for the Protea team, drummies have to first be awarded provincial colours, which Sibulele received in 2015 at the age of 11.
Sibulele was unavailable for comment as she was in class at the time of writing. But her unemployed mother, Nomawethu Kentane, said she struggled to cope with costs and find sponsors for her daughter.
“I always push her to do great things and express her talent, but we have challenges getting sponsors to cover her travel allowances and other needs,” Kentane said.
She said her daughter travelled every month to train in Johannesburg for the world championships.
“She loves the sport and I encourage her to do it. I have asked some of the parents on the school governing body to assist, and I will approach government to also assist her.”
On Saturday, Lilyfontein Primary went up against arch rivals Gonubie Primary, and won Champion of Champions status in all four disciplines – flag drill, throwing prop, non-prop and large drill.
Lilyfontein High, the first and only high school in East London to have a drum majorette team in 17 years, were uncontested. — mandilakhek@ dispatch.co.za..