Mbalula's new role welcomed

SOUTH African sports officials have welcomed the appointment of former safety and security deputy minister and ANC Youth League president Fikile Mbalula as new Sports Minister.

"We (athletes) are over the moon that Comrade Mbalula is the man in charge of our sports," Sam Mlangeni, media officer of athletes group South African Athletes, said yesterday.

"We are looking forward to meeting Mbalula to inform him about the challenges we are facing as athletes. We don't have sponsors and top athletes are leaving the sport to look for jobs to support their families. Athletics has been treated like the step- child of South African sports for almost a year, but there are hopes of good things after the appointment of Mbalula."

Suspended Athletics South Africa president Leonard Chuene commended President Jacob Zuma on Mabalula's appointment .

"I have known Mbalula from his days as ANCYL president I'm convinced he will not compromise when it comes to issues of transformation. He will take sports to another level," Chuene said.

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee president Gideon Sam also welcomed Mbalula's appointment. He also had kind words for departing minister Makhenkesi Stofile, whose handling of the Caster Semenya scandal left much to be desired.

Safa president Kirsten Nematandani said they were excited that Mbalula, with his Youth League background, was taking charge of the ministry "because sports is played mainly by youngsters".