Tongaat darts team makes history with promotion to Division 1 nationals

THE Tongaat Darts Association has made history by earning a promotion to Division 1 at the South African Darts Nationals, the first time in the association’s 60-year history that Tongaat will compete at the top level.

For years, the Tongaat team had been ranked in Division 2, but after an incredible undefeated run at the All Natal Games and a strong showing at the Nationals at the Wild Coast Sun in July, they secured their long-awaited promotion.

“This is the first time in Tongaat’s history that we will be playing in Division 1,” said Sachin Padayachee, 29, a real estate agent and one of the team’s players.

Padayachee, who began playing darts at age 14, has been a constant presence in the Tongaat team since 2012. 

“I started off playing darts from 2010 and in 2013, I was selected to represent South Africa in Malawi where we won gold. So every year we play something called the All Natal Games where we compete with darts teams all over KZN like Chatsworth, Phoenix, Empangeni, Howick, and PMB, and this year Tongaat won the All Natals undefeated.”

He explained that the All Natal Games are a crucial part of the competitive calendar. 

“At the games, we play each darts association in KZN to see who is the best in the province, as well as have a selection to see who will be competing in the South African Darts Nationals. I have been selected to represent Tongaat for 12 years from 2012 to now." 

The road to Division 1 was long and challenging. 

“Tongaat has always been in Section 2. We started from Section 5. Then we got promoted but got stuck in Section 2 for a long time because there were some tough teams there. But finally, this year we got promoted, and we will be the only Natal team playing in Division 1.”

Padayachee credited the team’s focus and unity for their success. 

“We actually said as a team from the very first game we played, we needed to take it one game at a time and not worry about other results but rather our own. It is with that mentality that we did not fear who we played because our team had unity.”

He described the team’s sense of pride in their historic accomplishment. 

“Winning means everything to us as it is tough to win the All Natals. There are many strong teams in Natal, but all our hard work in training and our team spirit helped us go undefeated." 

Padayachee also emphasised that promotion was not just about winning provincially. 

“We did not move up from winning the All Natal, we moved up because we finished in the top 2 at the South African Darts Nationals in Division 2 this year, which granted us promotion." 

The promotion represents a major milestone not just for the team, but for the Tongaat community. 

“The association has been around for over 60 years but this is the first time that we have made Division 1.”

Padayachee and his teammates are already preparing for the challenge of facing South Africa’s best. 

“It feels amazing. That was always the long-term goal for Tongaat, to play in Division 1 with the best all around SA. We have also been the only team from KZN competing in Division 1. It will be challenging but we are ready for it." 

With a World Cup selection opportunity coming up next year, the stakes are higher than ever. 

“The goal is to now win Division 1, start practising for the new year and to represent Tongaat, KZN and SA as next year there will be a world cup selection.

“This achievement means that you should never give up on a goal no matter how many times you fail. I have failed many times but my determination and persistence, and the fact I knew I am representing my community, pushed me to do even better. I also would not be where I am today without the support and mentorship of my manager, Ajit Hemlall.

"My message would be to never stop trying because one day your hard work will pay off and you will reach a new level,” said Padayachee. 

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