South African baseball players Nicholas Jeffries and AD Osman have each won R50 000 through Heart FM’s Future Stars competition with radio personality Nigel Pierce, supported by Gold Rush, ahead of their trip to Nicaragua for the WBSC U23 Baseball World Cup, taking place from 6 to 15 November 2026.
Jeffries is an outfielder, while Osman plays as a catcher and infielder. Their parents entered them by submitting voice notes explaining why they deserved to win and how financial support would help their sporting journeys.
The competition invited listeners to nominate deserving future sports stars, identify their sport and explain why they needed financial assistance.
The call from Pierce caught them completely by surprise. A coin toss between the two players initially saw Jeffries win the R50 000 prize. Pierce and Heart FM then went the extra mile, announcing an equivalent prize for Osman, ensuring that both players received R50 000.
The combined R100 000 contribution will help the two players travel to Nicaragua to represent South Africa at the WBSC U23 Baseball World Cup.
Financial support plays a vital role in helping South African athletes access international competition. For Jeffries and Osman, these prizes provide practical assistance as they prepare to represent their country on the world stage.
South African Baseball thanks Heart FM, Nigel Pierce and Gold Rush for backing future sports stars and supporting the players’ journey to Nicaragua.
Help our South African U23 baseball team get to the World Cup by supporting the BackaBuddy fundraising campaign. Every donation, big or small, helps make this opportunity possible.
Please click this Back a Buddy link here if you can help in any way
