February 2020

South African Master Sports Association’s motto is to bring together masters sportsmen and women in all communities to practice their sport in order to promote the philosophy of “Sport for Life”

Name: Yogas Reddy Position: Vice President Organization/Code: President – South African Masters Volleyball Association Date and place of birth: 23/10/1971 - Durban First Job: Worked in a Fruit and Veg Market

Personal best achievements: In 1995 I was awarded the United Nations Academic Scholarship, UCT Sports Scholarship, Awarded 5th place and Honorable Mention in

an International Architectural Student Competition and Represented South Africa at the World Student Games in Fukuoka, Japan. Philosophy of Life: Enjoy Life, life passes by too quickly. Favorite food and drink: Portuguese Styled Peri Peri Chicken and Prawns with a cold glass of Coke Zero Favorite Sport: Volleyball Favorite color: Blue

Why did you choose to continue to be active in sports?

I love to compete and physically push myself. Masters Volleyball gives me the opportunity to play the sport I love once a month and enjoy the day with my teammates and other teams.

Please tell us a bit more about your sport journey. The journey started in 1986. As a 15 year old, I formed my own volleyball club with some of my soccer friends and others who didn’t really play sport. I was already participating in various other sports codes but was drawn to Volleyball and was determined to succeed in it.

From 1987 to 1989 I represented my local volleyball district - Kharwastan at the prestigious Inter District Championship. In 1987 I was won the Most Promising Male player award.  In my Matric year I was awarded the Sports Boy of the year award. In 1990 I moved to Cape Town to study at UCT. From 1990 to 1992 I was selected in the  UCT Volleyball first team, part of the executive and was awarded UCT Sportsperson of Year in 1991 and 1992. I also represented Western Province Students Volleyball team from 1990 to 1992.

I returned to KZN in 1993 and was selected to represent my district Chatsworth at the prestigious Inter District Volleyball Championship and was part of the winning team in 1993 and 1994. I was selected to represent the KZN Senior Males Volleyball Team in 1993 and 1994. In 1995  I returned to UCT for my post Graduate degree. I captained the UCT Volleyball Team in 1995 and 1996 and lead them to two National University Titles. I was awarded Full Blues Colors and Player of the Year for 1995 and 1996 .I was also selected to represent Western Province Volleyball Students Team  in 1995 and in 1996 I was appointed captain and lead the team to the SA Students National Inter Provincial Title.

In 1997 I re-joined my local team, Apollo, as captain, and lead them to the VSA National Development Cup Title. From 1997-2001 I represented Chatsworth Volleyball as both a player and administrator and in 1999 was elected President of the Association. From 1998 to 2002 I lead my club Apollo to 5 back to back Top 5 positions at the National Club Championships.

I left South Africa in 2002 for the UK and returned in 2005. I started playing volleyball again socially in 2014. The master’s volleyball tournaments started in 2015 and that’s when I started to get fit enough to be able to participate again. In 2017 a group of friends decided to participate at the World Masters Games in Auckland New Zealand, where we finished 4th in the over 40 categories.

In 2017 I was elected President of the newly formed South African Masters Volleyball Association (SAMVA) and affiliated to SAMSA as our head body. SAMVA has assisted over 60 teams to come back to play master’s Volleyball and is growing every year. I have since played in the 2018 Asia Pacific Games in Penang, Malaysia, the 2019 European Masters Games in Turin, Italy and was part of the management team that won a Silver Medal in the over 40 categories. We are now planning for the 2020 Pan American Games in Brazil.

What are some areas that you believe will become of an increasing importance in the near future for sports in South Africa?

The availability of functioning sporting venues and additional funding to grow the sport. What advice would you offer people aspiring to be more active in Master Sports? First come out to watch, the sport bug will catch, join a team and then start to participate. Who is your role model/ mentor and why?

My first coach Mark Pillai – he was just 19 when he formed a club that consisted of three teams and gave everyone an opportunity to learn and participate in the game of volleyball. He did not wait for a older person to start a club and that inspired me to take on leadership roles from an early age. What is the best advice you have ever been given?

Believe in and Challenge yourself.

What advice would you offer people?

Believe in yourself, and the Challenge never Ends.

We are calling all other codes to join SAMSA. Membership fees are R 500. 00 per annum, per code. ALL CODES ARE WELCOME!

(A friendly reminder that membership fees are payable before 31 st March 2020 for each code)

Just a friendly reminder for all Sport Codes to please email their 2020 calendars so that the calendar can be updated and distributed.

South African Master Sports Association’s motto is to bring together masters sportsmen and women in all communities to practice their sport in order to promote the philosophy of “Sport for Life”

EDITOR’S CORNER

Remember, this is your blog and we would like to hear from you. If you have any information, stories or hints on how to take care of sporting equipment that we can share, please submit them via email to info@samaster.co.za

Your feedback will be highly appreciated.

VISION

To promote the transformation initiatives, anti racism and anti sexism among fellow Masters in our Country.

MISSION

To bring all codes together to enjoy, have fun, laugh, socialize and participate in all sports no matter your race or age.

VALUES

- Honesty

- Integrity

- Professionalism

- Accountability