Mcelwa Nchabeleng
Mcelwa Nchabeleng
South African athletics legend Hendrick "The Hammer" Mokganyetsi reckons the knowledge he is gaining in the sport will benefit the country in future.
Mokganyetsi, the joint national 400m record holder, stressed yesterday that his objective was to ensure that they unearth more athletics talent in the country.
He holds the national record of 44,59 seconds with Arnaud Malherbe.
The 32-year-old, who has represented the country at three Olympics, received his level three International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) certificate. He insists that South Africa is full of talented sprinters.
He received the certificate in Kenya last Saturday after attending a week-long course which focused on sprints and hurdles.
"It was a fruitful course and has motivated me as a coach," said Mokganyetsi yesterday. "We were taught, among other things, how to develop a sprinter at a tender age. We were also encouraged to go out and produce hurdlers."
South Africa has Louis "LJ" van Zyl, Alwyn Myburg, Pieter de Villiers and Ockert Cilliers who are competing at the highest level in the hurdles.
Mokganyetsi also represents athletes in the Athletics South Africa (ASA) board.
Molatelo "Lati" Malehopo, ASA's acting general manager, said it was good for the sport to see seasoned athletes like Mokganyetsi returning to augment athletics development in the country.