Who is Nicola Rossouw?
Read all about it:
When she was 11 she started smoking dagga because of peer pressure. She later moved on to mandrax and ecstasy, and was an addict for 11 years.
But at the age of 21 she decided to put her drug days behind her, and she has been clean for the past eight years.
She has become a beacon of hope for her community, doing motivational talks at schools and churches.
Now she has made it her mission to coach young people in playing pool.
"I have been coaching children in Arcadia, but now I don?t have my own place any more, but I will coach people from my home," she said.
She said she dedicated her achievement to her father.
"My father died last October and the very next day I had to take part in the SA championship. I ended up being ranked second.
She said the biggest highlight for her at this year?s championship had been beating one of the best pool players in South Africa, Aspra Panchoo.
"She is ranked the No1 woman pool player in the world and I felt emotional and overwhelmed with excitement."
Rossouw's mother, Maria, said she was happy at her daughter's accomplishment.
"When I heard that she was ranked No1, I thought she was joking because of all the struggles she had gone through to get funding to go to Cape Town."
She said her daughter had struggled to get fares paid after prospective sponsors let her down.
However, she had received support from local non-governmental organisation Social Economic Empowerment and Development (Seed).
Seed chairman Mervin Rossouw said Nicola had done the northern areas proud.
"We are proud to help the sportsmen and women who put the Gelvandale community on the map," he said.
Another happy ending! :smile: