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Marathon handed to Soweto

A CROWD PULLER: The Soweto Marathon is one of the most popular events on the local road running calendar. Photo: Veli Nhlapo
A CROWD PULLER: The Soweto Marathon is one of the most popular events on the local road running calendar. Photo: Veli Nhlapo

CONCERNED Soweto athletics clubs and athletes yesterday expressed their contentment after Athletics South Africa gave them custody of the Soweto Marathon.

The athletics body, which has been administering the race for many years, has been under severe pressure from the group to return the People's Race to the people of Soweto.

They had a meeting early last month to discuss the matter and spokesman Stan Itshegetseng told Sowetan at the time that they were backed by unhappy local athletes and councillors in their concerted bid to reclaim custody of the race. They were unhappy about the manner in which ASA was handling the race, which has deviated from its mission of developing athletics in the township.

The group also accused ASA of using the race as a cash cow with no regard for creating opportunities for Soweto youths to take part in athletics.

Yesterday, however, Itshegetseng said: "They responded positively to our request to hand over the Soweto Marathon to the people of Soweto. We salute the ASA CEO Frik Vermaak for kindly facilitating the handover. We intend to work closely with ASA to ensure that the Soweto Marathon delivers on its mandate, which is to develop athletics in Soweto. The marathon will now exist as an independent brand free to determine its own destiny and to develop its own image."

Vermaak said: "This is not a handover but an agreement. We agreed on the formation of a trust that will include all the stakeholders to run the Soweto Marathon."

Banele Sindani, Leonard Chuene, Thulani Sibisi and Sowetan sports editor at the time, Horatio Motjuwadi, were among those at the forefront of its formation.

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