When he is not competing in national, provincial and regional karate competitions, Sports Scholarship recipient, Mr Osman Ghoor is working hard to fulfil his ambition to become a chartered accountant.
The 19-year-old Bachelor of Commerce Accounting student says that as a love for sports and accounting run in his family, he aims to excel in both to uphold the family legacy.
‘I started karate at the age of four as my family is big on sports. I began training twice a week, then six times a week until eventually it became part of my daily life and I started participating in regional/provincial tournaments,’ said Ghoor.
‘My provincial ranking was the key for me to enter South African national tournaments. I also have a passion for accounting and business studies as my grandfather and uncle are qualified chartered accountants,’ he added.
Ghoor’s sporting achievements include being placed second on the continent after representing South Africa at the Continental UFAK Karate Championships in Cameroon in 2017. In the same year, he was placed seventh among more than 100 athletes at the Youth Cup in Croatia, represented South Africa at the WKF World Championships in Spain and was ranked seventh in the world on the WKF Rankings. In 2018, he was named Sportsman of the Year by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Sport and Recreation.
A member of the Proteas, the South African National Karate Team, Ghoor says the scholarship is a reward for his hard work, dedication, and commitment.
‘Being awarded this scholarship has changed my life. It has enabled me to appreciate what a Protea means to the country and has earned me respect. I’m very thankful that a panel of qualified people selected me from many deserving applicants. The scholarship will also enable me to travel to maintain my ranking internationally,’ he said.
Words: Thandiwe Jumo
Photograph: Supplied
