U-Teddyboy Buthelezi wazalwa ngoNovemba 23 1953, eGlebelands, eningizimu yeTheku. UButhelezi waqala umsebenzi wakhe wokuqeqesha ithenisi ekuqaleni kweminyaka yama-1980. Ngenxa yemithetho yobandlululo wayengeke angeniswe kunoma iyiphi i-Tennis Academy ngenxa yebala lakhe. Uthando lwakhe ngalo mdlalo, lumkhuthaze ukuthi ayofunda phesheya ngezincwadi. Ngo-1988, waqeqeshwa njengomqeqeshi wethenisi okhokhelwayo ngaphansi kwe-United State National Tennis Academy (Texas). Waziwa njengomqeqeshi oqeqeshiwe lapha eNingizimu Afrika ngo-2003.
Njengamanje, uButhelezi ugqugquzela ithenisi emalokishini ase-Afrika ezinganeni ezincane, eziswele.
Although this is not acknowledged, anywhere, I would like to reveal that I am the first person, who taught Teddyboy how to play tennis, when I was his Deyi High School principal, round about 1971-1973. Before meeting Teddyboy, I had been an accomplished tennis player, myself, a winner of several titles. Since there was no tennis court in this rural land, I had to improvise one, at the school. We built a paddle tennis court with Teddybody and his school mates. That is where his tennis career began. Teddyboy, incidentally, was also a very good soccerite, with his left foot. I wish Teddyboy all the best in his career. Teddybody is an example of the gospel I have always preached – use sport to open career doors for our Black youth. Hence my interest in various sporting codes.
Thank you for this added information, Dr Mkhize. Much appreciated!
My name is Teddyboy Buthelezi, a Tennis Coach, and Tennis Development Officer for Ethekwini Tennis Development Academy, I was so GRATEFUL to know that Dr Rush Mkhize wrote about my Tennis history, although is not complete. Briefly , I agree with him that he taught us a PADDLE TENNIS, Playing with WOODEN BAT, The FORMAL TENNIS I learned it when I was in St Mary’s Boys Seminary at IXOPO. a Roman Catholic Private School .When I was doing Matric I decided to choose choose the Sport which I was going to play after finishing High School education. I decided to learn Tennis, there was a Tennis court at school , the surface was a TARMAC not Concrete ground, everybody was playing for for Fun. ( Part Two is coming if the Editor allows me.) Thank you.
Many thanks for this added detail, Teddyboy!