FEATURE
RICHARD LASKEY: Sphelele! Bonjour! Or should I say Sawubona! Man, you’ ve been harder to catch than my editor when I’ ve missed a deadline.
SPHELELE DLAMINI: [ Laughs ] Sawubona, Richard! I’ ve been all over, hey— Qatar, Dubai, now France. My passport’ s working overtime, and I wouldn’ t have it any other way!
RICHARD LASKEY: Let’ s take it back. Born in‘ 96 in KwaMashu, and both legs amputated below the knee shortly after birth— but here you are, a pro baller in Europe. That’ s wild.
SPHELELE DLAMINI: Wild is right! If you told 10-yearold me that one day I’ d be playing pro ball in France, I’ d have laughed … and probably challenged you to a footrace. Growing up in KwaMashu was no walk in the park— it was loud, rough, real. People teased me constantly, but that just made me sharper, stronger.
RICHARD LASKEY: You wanted to be a doctor once, right? SPHELELE DLAMINI: Yeah! I wanted to go into prosthetics and orthotics— to help kids like me. But then sport came along and hijacked the dream in the best way possible. First, it was netball and athletics at school, then I rolled into wheelchair basketball. The travel, the team spirit, the medals— I was hooked.
RICHARD LASKEY: And then came Jumping Kids.
SPHELELE DLAMINI: Game changer! Before them, I had those basic government-issued prosthetics— better than nothing, but tough. Jumping Kids hooked me up with custombuilt legs. Suddenly, I could move like never before. They opened doors: sport, school, confidence— everything levelled up. Through them, I met amazing people like Tyrone Pillay, Ntando Mahlangu, and Michael Stevens. Even Black Coffee, bro! I owe so much to Jumping Kids and to all those unsung heroes who invest in kids like me, because the cost of living with a disability in this country is incredibly high. My parents couldn ' t afford it, but strangers helped carry the weight. That’ s something I take seriously, and I have to pay it forward— help others, inspire others. disabilities to see what’ s possible. Access, support, and a fighting chance— that’ s what they need. I’ ve been lucky with Jumping Kids and the people who’ ve believed in me. Now I want to be that person for someone else.
RICHARD LASKEY: Your journey hasn’ t been smooth, though. You’ ve had some major setbacks.
SPHELELE DLAMINI: Oh man, plenty. Wheelchair basketball truly saved my life— it gave me a second chance, a purpose. It helped me understand that every struggle was part of the journey. But that doesn’ t mean it was easy. A few years ago, two years in a row, I was selected in the last 12 weeks before departure … and then left behind. It kept happening. I’ d play my heart out, get compliments, but somehow always be dropped. Players who started after me got picked ahead. I even started thinking maybe it was just bad luck. It tested me.
RICHARD LASKEY: And then Siphamandla Gumbi entered the picture?
SPHELELE DLAMINI: Exactly! That man believed in me when I didn’ t believe in myself anymore. He said I had something to offer and gave me a real chance. He was more than a coach; he was like a father figure. We saw the game the same way, and I could connect with him easily. One of the best things about him- he knew that before the athlete, there was a human being. He made a huge impact on KZN wheelchair basketball and my life. He deserves so much credit for where I am now.
RICHARD LASKEY: Your faith seems to ground you, too. SPHELELE DLAMINI: Definitely. I believe we’ re all part of one big family under God. Whether we’ re walking or wheeling, we all belong. My mission is to be the best version of myself, love and grow, and then give that back to the world.
RICHARD LASKEY: Okay, last one— if you could say something to that younger version of yourself, the kid learning to walk in KwaMashu, what would it be?
SPHELELE DLAMINI: I’ d say,“ Don’ t give up. One day, these wheels are going to take you places your feet never could.”
RICHARD LASKEY: Speaking of doors opening, now you’ re in France playing pro wheelchair basketball. How did that happen?
SPHELELE DLAMINI: Long story short? In 2016, I got a similar offer but couldn’ t afford the visa or flights. It broke me. Then, in 2022, Michael Stevens from Jumping Kids stepped in like a guardian angel. He said,“ We’ re making this happen.” And just like that— boom! Plane ticket in hand, I was off to France.
RICHARD LASKEY: And the team welcomed you?
And just like that, he’ s off— probably to hit the gym, inspire someone, or chase another dream. Sphelele Dlamini doesn’ t just roll. He rolls with purpose. And the world? It’ s watching.
Follow Sphelele’ s journey on: @ sphelele _ dlamini Support Jumping Kids Prosthetic Fund: jumpingkids. org. za spheleledlaminimax @ icloud. com
SPHELELE DLAMINI: Like a long-lost family. They care here, not just about performance, but your mental health, your settling in. It’ s next-level. But I’ m still hungry— Italy, Spain, Germany? I’ m coming for you! And if South Africa calls? I’ ll be there in a heartbeat.
RICHARD LASKEY: You’ ve become a role model now. That comes with pressure, right?
SPHELELE DLAMINI: For sure, it does.“ Role model” is a big word, but I take it seriously. I want kids living with
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