South Africa’s teenage sprint star Bayanda Walaza has explained why he recently rejected a move to the US despite the allure of working with some of the world’s top coaches.
South Africa’s 18-year-old sensation Bayanda Walaza has turned down a US scholarship to stay back home and work with his coach Thabo Matebedi.
Seeming to listen to the words of Olympics 200m champion Letsile Tebogo, who advised African sprinters against the lure of switching to American training camps, the teenage sprinter has decided to continue his relationship with Matebedi, which will now enter its third year in 2025.
Matebedi has worked with Walaza since he was 15 and their relationship has already yielded an Olympics silver medal, after the sprinter was part of Team South Africa’s 4x100m relay team that finished second at the Paris 2024 Games.
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“After achieving success early in their careers, many athletes feel the need to work with so-called ‘big-name’ coaches, but these coaches often fail to truly understand them,” said Matebedi as quoted by SABC.
“Take someone like Akani, for instance—he’s been with his coach for 15 years, and their strong relationship speaks volumes. Breaking that bond can make everything more challenging. I’d like to coach Bayanda for as long as he’s willing to work with me.
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“Usain Bolt stayed with his coach until he retired—why can’t I do the same? I could coach Bayanda all the way to his retirement. Over the past seven years, I’ve seen the value of building close connections with my athletes. We’ve learned how to communicate effectively, and I’ve developed a fatherly role with them. We share a great relationship, full of laughter and fun.”
With the success of Akani Simbine, who has worked with his coach for 15 years, Matebedi is hoping to build such a partnership with Walaza and shape him into one of the world’s top sprinters.
“He’s still a junior, but trains alongside senior athletes like Sinesipho Dambile and Gift Leotlela. The progress he’s made is impressive, and he’s maturing quickly, which will make it easier for him to compete against senior athletes,” his coach added.
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“Although many may view him as a senior, I still treat him as a junior athlete for now. We’re building a strong, unbreakable bond, and coaching him has been an absolute pleasure.”
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