Katlehong AC youngsters snapped up by Curro Hazeldean as club's development arm celebrates successful 2024

If Hloni Motloung could have been present at the DH Williams Hall in Katlehong on Saturday 14 December he would have worn the broadest of smiles. Firstly, the club’s development awards which took place for this first time 12 months earlier, had gone ahead again despite significant financial challenges. The awards which were sponsored by Phindoms Trading and Projects and attended by Central Gauteng Athletics Acting President Karabo Mabilo as well as Athletics South Africa Road Running Chairperson Enoch Skosana were hosted to celebrate the performances of the club’s two dozen sub-youth athletes during the track and cross country seasons.

"I feel happy that the awards took place because it is important to recognise the achievements of our young athletes that did well. Even those that didn’t perform so well this year, we still have to respect their commitment to the programme. You see it’s not all about results in running. We want to see our children removed from dangerous situations and all the social ills such as teenage pregnancy and substance abuse. So I'm very happy and would like to thanks the executive of the Katlehong Athletics Club, all the club’s members and the development committee and Phindoms Trading for supporting this event," explained coach Lwandise Jomo Mbhele.

Mbhele and Phindile Ngcanca (Founder of Phindoms Trading and Projects) pose with the young athletes that were honoured with awards on the day. Photo Credit: Supplied.

Yes. That would have made Motloung happy too. But the second and possibly more important reason that the former Katlehong Athletics Club Executive Member would have smiled contentedly is for seeing his dying wish fulfilled. You see, with at least three of the Ekurhuleni township club’s youngsters having been selected to represent their province (CGA) at the ASA Cross Country Championships in December and the ASA Sub-Youth Track and Field Championships on 6 and 7 December, it came as no surprise when Mbhele announced that two of their future champions had received full athletic scholarships.

12-year-old Indiphile Myeki who took home the Most Inspiring Athlete and Exceptional Athlete of the Year Award, and Amila Tshetshe who won the Most Discipline Athlete of The Year award will run in the colours of Curro Hazeldean in 2025, the same school where fellow Katlehong native Bayanda Walaza completed his matric this year. 

Olympic silver medalist Bayanda Walaza was also present to motivate the youngsters. Photo credit: Lifutso Mabua.

"I wish them well and hope that they continue to succeed. Our job as a club is to inculcate certain values in them - respect being foremost amongst them. The way that they carry themselves will also represent the club out there. So I wish them nothing but goodness. Even those that haven’t received scholarship shouldn’t lose heart because we are forging ahead. My commitment to them is that I will continue with this work and give them time so that they can go on to better things in the future."

This is what would have made Motloung really smile. Speaking to #TheTopRunner after Myeki's victory in the Boys U12 1200m at the South African Schools Athletics Championships at the University of Limpopo in March in what turned out to be his final interview with this publication, the CGA Deputy Chairperson of Road Running explained that the main reason they started the development wing of the KAC was to give opportunity to promising athletes like Mnyeki, many of whom come from the township’s informal settlements. "Now he will get a scholarship which is always my dream - to get these juniors into running schools."

The club’s work to care for it's junior athletes is not limited to athletic training. Today (31 December, 2024) the club hosts it\s annual year-end shoe drive where social runners can join Katlehong AC members to run 31km and donate R150 which is put towards buying school shoes for the youngsters for the new academic year.