Inspired by #WeAreComingForEverything. The most important hashtags of our generation.

Have you seen how children would put their feet, wear and try to have their feet fitting their parent’s shoes? 99.9% of the time, it’s never the same sizes as theirs. It’s always bigger sizes than theirs. At that point they envision themselves having/wearing the same size of shoes…therefore they end up adopting the mentality #WeAreComingForEverything.

And as a sports fanatic, well soccer is my “Day One”, and lately I’ve been watching a lot of cricket because of Kagiso Rabada, tennis because of Novak Djokovic and rugby because of Seabelo Senatla. Irrespective of skin colour, I have seen young players like Kagiso Rabada and Themba Bavuma being interviewed, and all they keep saying is that they’ve always dreamt of being in the cricket national team. But these players didn’t only dream, when given the chance to play at youth level (Under 17-19) they’ve always raised the national flag. And not only did they raise the national flag but also raised an opportunity for Minister of Sports Fikile Mbalula, to introduce and enforce the racial quota in the national teams. This has seen a new breed of youngsters being produced by Proteas. It’s a no brainer, these youngsters will lead the team to success in the future.

We have seen already, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada becoming the first player to scoop six awards at CSA’s annual dinner, including the coveted South African cricketer of the year prize, surpassing AB de Villiers and Hashim Amla, who had previously won five each. Not only is Rabada the only player to notch up that many awards, but he is also the youngest to win the main prize. Who would’ve thought?

You’ve got to see it, until you see it! I can also continue to mention the likes of Siphiwe Tshabalala, the Kaizer Chiefs club captain, Itumeleng Khune, these guys would attend trials without proper kit, travel long distances just to get there on time and have their parents spending their last money on buying them a pair of boots. But above everything else, even the parents could see the passion from these kids, today they are ripping the rewards. Currently the likes of Thulani Serero, Kegan Dolly (Sundowns) and Mobara (Pirates) these youngsters have the shoes fitting them now! They’re living their dreams.

From any industry, not because I’m just a sports fanatic, any field, any career, academics, individual goals, dreams, vision…you’ve got to see it until you see it! You’ve got to see it from the beginning, you’ve got to chase it like it’s the last bus of the day, you’ve got to endure hunger, sacrifice sleep, sacrifice spending time with family, friends, church. Most of these youngsters especially those who go or have gone to play overseas have always cried of being homesick, hence some have failed to live up to the expectations and ended up having to come back home (SA).

And when a kid has put on their parent’s shoes, the size of the shoes matters not, but the size of your dream matter. The more, the bigger you dream the better future. With those shoes on, the kid falls countless times, the same on your journey to greatness, you’ll fall countless times, you’ll fail but it’s not the end. Don’t stop. But at the end, the parent takes back their shoes, but may no one take your dream away from you! May that dream continue until it’s fulfilled.

Now take those shoes, regardless of the size, and start walking…

Writer: Mxola Emmanuel Tshabalala