A 27-year-old Paralympic athlete from Masibekela in Nkomazi, Mpumalanga is set to participate in the 100-metres and 400 race in Thailand to qualify for next year’s Paralympics, but might have his dream shattered if he doesn’t get funding.

Collen Mahlalela is facing financial difficulties and this could scupper his trip to Thailand in December.

He says this is his only chance after failing to make it for Portugal.

“My wish is to go Thailand because last year I missed the Portugal trip because I didn’t have having funds for the trip. So now my wish is to go Thailand so that I can be classified. If you don’t have international classification you can’t go to the Olympics, the thing they want is the international classification.”