Boy, 7, eyes soccer future after getting new legs

Tshepo Rasebaka (7) plays soccer with his friends at school. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

Tshepo Rasebaka (7) plays soccer with his friends at school. Picture: Oupa Mokoena

Published Aug 29, 2016

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Pretoria - Less than two weeks after receiving prosthetic legs, 7-year-old Tshepo Rasebeka has his eyes set on playing soccer for his favourite team Kaizer Chiefs.

The youngster from Soshanguve was born with a congenital abnormality which resulted in his lower limbs being amputated at just nine months of age.

His mother Asnath Rasebeka said Tshepo, although active without his legs, wished he could have prosthetic legs. “He would crawl after his friends on his stumps and ask me: Mommy when are my legs coming’.”

With the help of the Jumping Kids, a charity organisation and car rental company Avis, Tshepo was finally given legs on August 18.

The Pretoria News visited Tshepo at the Pretoria School for cerebral palsied pupils during his first week of school with his new legs and the youngster was more confident and bubbly than before.

Beverly Kapp, a physiotherapist at the school, said Tshepo had taken to the legs immediately from the moment he put them on.

“He is extremely enthusiastic about them and says he would like to play soccer one day. His therapy is going quite well too.

“He is managing two hours on his prosthesis and we hope within a year he will be able to walk full time with them.”

Kapp says they only put his legs on for two hours as he still has to get used to them and get balance as the muscles that keep him in extension have not been working since he was born. “He has never stood upright so it takes a lot of effort in the beginning. Whereas everyone else is able to unconsciously get up and walk, he has to find his centre of gravity and feel safe on his legs. For a little boy who likes to play on the floor it is not always easy for him to be on his legs constantly.”

The physiotherapist said the school ensured Tshepo did a lot of jumping sideways and walking exercises to give him a chance to improve his balance.

Class teacher Andriette Gibhard said Tshepo’s classmates were impressed with his legs because now he got to play soccer with them.

“His self-confidence has just grown tremendously even though he still uses his wheelchair.

“Tshepo’s confidence will also help in his academics in the long run. Even though some of his friends are still crawling they are still so excited for him,” said Gibhard.

For now though the avid Kaizer Chiefs supporter is happy he can finally walk.

“I can’t run properly yet but I’ve been enjoying my new legs and I can’t wait to play soccer full time.

“My friends are also excited about my new legs and they ask me to run in them all the time.”

Rasebeka said for her the most fulfilling thing was seeing the happiness the prosthetic legs had brought her son.

“I have seen him just glow with happiness from the moment he put them on and that’s enough for me.”

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Pretoria News

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