This is a well written book shining light on two talented sports from challenging backgrounds who achieved great things

Reviewer: Giyani Baloi
Title: RAISING CHAMPIONS: The path to greatness starts at home
Author: Myan Subrayan
Publisher: Penguin Random House South Africa

It’s a collaborated motivational book written by a well-known South African born author Myan Subrayan, about South African soccer star Shaun Bartlett, 2012 London Olympic swimming Gold medal winner, Chad Le Close’ s Father Bert and CJ Van Der Linde the 2007 South African rugby world cup winner. 

The book looks at these three South African sports stars, their background, and how that influenced and shaped their character to succeed in their respective sporting discipline. 

Bert Le Clos talks about how character, discipline, hard work, and family support helped his son Chad Le Clos to win a gold medal in London Olympic 2012 swimming. 

Well, CJ Van Der Linde talks about growing up on a farm in Free State, helping his father to farm, take care of the animals, fixing the farming equipment, and sometimes working in the rain. And how that shaped his character that stood him well in getting him to succeed in what is arguably the world’s hardest sport, which is rugby. 

Shaun Bartlett’s background is that of growing up in the drug infested Cape Flats, surrounded by gangsterism, without a father. Because his father was not there with him. As a result, his single mother could not copy alone, so he had to be brought up by his grandparents in a family of fourteen, all living in a three roomed house.

All these diverse backgrounds created characters, and that nurtured different talents. But the commonality on all these is hard work, focus, and discipline. The book is simple to read. A well written book that managed to bring together diverse sporting backgrounds and aligned the message and purpose very well.