NEW Athletics Gauteng North president James Mokoka intends engaging Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramakgopa to make township stadiums accessible to their sport too.
NEW Athletics Gauteng North president James Mokoka intends engaging Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramakgopa to make township stadiums accessible to their sport too.
"Our children are forced to travel long distances to Pretoria for training purposes because the facilities in their townships are not accessible," he said.
"The newly refurbished Super Stadium in Atteridgeville has been closed for athletics but can be used for soccer any time.
"There is a track at the stadium but we can't use it. We fully support the 2010 Fifa World Cup but we are saying as community members, we also deserve to be treated equally.
"You go to Giant Stadium in Soshanguve, it's a giant for nothing. The same applies to Temba Stadium in Hammanskraal, the construction has not been completed.
"You go to Odi Stadium in Mabopane, we do not know what is happening. We want to see all those facilities also accessible to athletes. We are in a recession, parents do not have money to give to their children to travel to the city for training and competitions.
"We want to engage the Tshwane mayor on this matter. As Athletics Gauteng North, we have always taken the lead in terms to producing great athletes. I'm talking about great athletes like Sydney Maree, Rosina Sedibane, Benoni Malaka, Gert Le Roux, Gert Potgieter, Llewellyn Herbert, Dikeledi Moropane and many more.
"We hope Comrade Ramokgopa will give us a hearing," said Mokoka, himself a former athletics great who is now an ASA interim board member.
Meanwhile, Daan du Toit was elected Mokoka's deputy president. Duke Mokonoto, Andrey Gobey and Jerry Senekal were elected the chairpersons of road running, cross country and track and field commissions, respectively.
Additional board members elected are Maidi Mogashoa, Karin van der Walt, Rita van der Merwe and Dikaledi Ramasia.
mokoka chases stadiums
NEW Athletics Gauteng North president James Mokoka intends engaging Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramakgopa to make township stadiums accessible to their sport too.
NEW Athletics Gauteng North president James Mokoka intends engaging Tshwane mayor Gwen Ramakgopa to make township stadiums accessible to their sport too.
"Our children are forced to travel long distances to Pretoria for training purposes because the facilities in their townships are not accessible," he said.
"The newly refurbished Super Stadium in Atteridgeville has been closed for athletics but can be used for soccer any time.
"There is a track at the stadium but we can't use it. We fully support the 2010 Fifa World Cup but we are saying as community members, we also deserve to be treated equally.
"You go to Giant Stadium in Soshanguve, it's a giant for nothing. The same applies to Temba Stadium in Hammanskraal, the construction has not been completed.
"You go to Odi Stadium in Mabopane, we do not know what is happening. We want to see all those facilities also accessible to athletes. We are in a recession, parents do not have money to give to their children to travel to the city for training and competitions.
"We want to engage the Tshwane mayor on this matter. As Athletics Gauteng North, we have always taken the lead in terms to producing great athletes. I'm talking about great athletes like Sydney Maree, Rosina Sedibane, Benoni Malaka, Gert Le Roux, Gert Potgieter, Llewellyn Herbert, Dikeledi Moropane and many more.
"We hope Comrade Ramokgopa will give us a hearing," said Mokoka, himself a former athletics great who is now an ASA interim board member.
Meanwhile, Daan du Toit was elected Mokoka's deputy president. Duke Mokonoto, Andrey Gobey and Jerry Senekal were elected the chairpersons of road running, cross country and track and field commissions, respectively.
Additional board members elected are Maidi Mogashoa, Karin van der Walt, Rita van der Merwe and Dikaledi Ramasia.