Mcelwa Nchabeleng
Mcelwa Nchabeleng
Athletics South Africa (ASA) has expressed its concern at the slow rate of registration by Limpopo athletes for the popular Nedbank Matha Series Half-Marathon in Polokwane on October 6.
The race is hosted by Limpopo Athletics (LA) at Peter Mokaba Stadium, starting at 7am.
It will be the last leg of the race this year and ASA is hoping to make it a success story, but it does not look as if the national controlling body will succeed if the slow rate of registration is anything to go by.
"Look, we are targeting 3 000 athletes, but the number of those who have registered so far is about 500. We are worried because we are only left with a week before the race," Phiwe Mlangeni-Tshole- tsane, ASA's events, marketing and communications manager, told Sowetan yesterday.
"We have been successful in terms of participation in the past series and that is why we are concerned about the prevailing situation in Limpopo. I thought we will be having an impressive number of registered athletes for the race today because it will be the first time that we stage it in Limpopo.
"We are bringing it again next year. I'm appealing to athletes from that province not to disappoint us by staying away from the race. The main aim of the series is to encourage mass participation in athletics," she said.
Attlee Maponyane, LA's president, is equally concerned by the attitude of their athletes.
"Their attitude is wrong. They always come a day before the race or to register a few hours before the race starts. This must stop," said Maponyane yesterday.
In their efforts to avoid disappointment, Mlangeni-Tsholetsane revealed that entries for the race will also be taken on the day of the event. There will also be a 5km fun run on the day.
Registration worries ASA
Mcelwa Nchabeleng
Mcelwa Nchabeleng
Athletics South Africa (ASA) has expressed its concern at the slow rate of registration by Limpopo athletes for the popular Nedbank Matha Series Half-Marathon in Polokwane on October 6.
The race is hosted by Limpopo Athletics (LA) at Peter Mokaba Stadium, starting at 7am.
It will be the last leg of the race this year and ASA is hoping to make it a success story, but it does not look as if the national controlling body will succeed if the slow rate of registration is anything to go by.
"Look, we are targeting 3 000 athletes, but the number of those who have registered so far is about 500. We are worried because we are only left with a week before the race," Phiwe Mlangeni-Tshole- tsane, ASA's events, marketing and communications manager, told Sowetan yesterday.
"We have been successful in terms of participation in the past series and that is why we are concerned about the prevailing situation in Limpopo. I thought we will be having an impressive number of registered athletes for the race today because it will be the first time that we stage it in Limpopo.
"We are bringing it again next year. I'm appealing to athletes from that province not to disappoint us by staying away from the race. The main aim of the series is to encourage mass participation in athletics," she said.
Attlee Maponyane, LA's president, is equally concerned by the attitude of their athletes.
"Their attitude is wrong. They always come a day before the race or to register a few hours before the race starts. This must stop," said Maponyane yesterday.
In their efforts to avoid disappointment, Mlangeni-Tsholetsane revealed that entries for the race will also be taken on the day of the event. There will also be a 5km fun run on the day.
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