'Raising Champions': author's practical roadmap to nurturing resilient children

LIFE coach and author, Myandran Subrayan aims to provide a practical roadmap for parents, teachers, coaches and business leaders who want to raise a new generation of South Africans to rise above challenges through his latest book, Raising Champions: The Path to Greatness Starts at Home.

- NADIA KHAN [e-mail]

The book will be released today (Wednesday).

Subrayan, 50, who hails from Durban and now lives in Perth in Australia, said the book weaved together the journeys of three of South Africa’s greatest sportsmen - swimmer and Olympic gold medallist Chad le Clos; former football player, Shaun Bartlett; and former rugby player and World Cup winner CJ van der Linde; and the lessons their families lived out.

"It's about discipline, character, faith, sacrifice and family. Over the years, I have worked closely with elite athletes and their families, and I have been struck not just by their achievements, but by the character that sustained them," he said.

Subrayan, who is also a teacher and pastor, said he was inspired after writing the autobiography of Le Clos in 2014.

"I saw the impact his dad, Bert le Clos, had on his life.

"I said to Bert that when the time was right, I would like to write a book of all the lessons he had shared with Chad. This book is a result of that conversation, as well as the many talks I have done at various schools around the country.

"During these talks I saw the urgent need for hope and values-based guidance in South Africa. Everywhere we look, we see headlines of corruption, crime, fatherlessness and broken families.