Leg up for athletes

WASTEFUL South African sports stars must attend the Athletes Career Programme, an initiative aimed at helping them continue enjoying a successful life after retirement.

This is according to athletics legend Hezekiel Sepeng, who attended a programme workshop in Johannesburg this week.

The first workshop took place in Stellenbosch. The aim of the programme is to help athletes to continue living a successful life after retiring and to prepare them to excel in the workplace.

The workshops are organised by the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc), and E for Exec Professional HR Services.

Sepeng attended the Johannesburg one on Wednesday, which was addressed by sprint legend Frankie Fredericks and Zimbabwe swim star Kirsty Coventry.

"It is such a great initiative. We are grateful to Sascoc for putting it together for us, [it was] an eye-opener for many of us listening to the presentations by Frankie, Kirstie Coventry and the lecturers," Sepeng said. "If all the athletes can attend the programme, we will never have people begging when they retire. We are also advised not to stop studying when we turn professional."

Sascoc president Gideon Sam said: "If you treat athletes like royalty they will give you royal performances and this programme is one of the ways Sascoc gives back to the athletes and assists them in preparing for life after sport."