ASA to appoint national development manager & use legends to nurture future champions says Moloi

Newly elected Athletics South Africa (ASA) President James Moloi has revealed that plans are afoot to appoint a national development officer who will be tasked with ensuring that promising young athletes are given the support on their journey to becoming champions. Under his predecessor Aleck Skhosana, ASA was often been criticised for its sometimes adversarial stance against the South African School Athletics (SASA) body as they tried unsuccessfully to align their activities leading to public battles between the two and the suspension of the SASA Executive in January 2020.

Moloi (centre) flanked by his new board have prioritised development during their 4-year term of office. Photo Credit: MWMedia.

But Moloi says boardroom battles for the control of school sport are a thing of the past because the new regime will focus on developing future champions. "We need a development manager in the office whose going to run the policies and send it to the provinces to deliver on that," he explained.

In his previous role as president of Central Gauteng Athletics Moloi presided over one of the few regional athletics federation to have it's a dedicated development officer. Through that office, CGA and their partners were able to assist a number of promising youngsters to get athletics bursaries to schools such as Queens High School and the University of Johannesburg.

Shadrack Hoff leads Enock Skhosana in a track during the ABSA Series two decades ago. Moloi believes these legends have a role to play in developing future champions. Skhosana has also been elected to the new board. Photo Credit: Enock Skhosana.

Moloi believes that this one of the tools at his disposal to build ASA into one of the best sports federations in the country. The former Top Runner who ran in the colours of Diepkloof Athletic Club under the guidance of late former ASA Boss Leonard Chuene also sees a role for retired athletes in the development sphere. "We need to empower our legends, those who have been there before. We must take them to courses so that they can be managers and coaches," he concluded.