Khotso Mokoena to run in ASA Elections

Olympic silver medalist Khotso Mokoena wants to be the voice of the athletes. The celebrated lanky long and triple jumper has indicated that he would like to stand for a position on the Athletics South Africa (ASA) board, specifically the chairperson of the athlete's commission. The eagerly awaited ASA elections will take place on 8 May at the Southern Sun Hotel in Kempton Park.

Mokoena says he is now ready to make the transition from professional athlete to sports administrator. Photo Credit: Khotso Mokoena.

The 35-year-old always had the ambition of being on the ASA board and he hopes that clubs and provinces will nominate him to serve now that he has publicly expressed his interest to contest the elections. "I would like to run for the athletes' chairperson position at the upcoming ASA elections. I am available and want to be a voice for the athletes. I am calling on athletes, clubs, and provinces to nominate me for this position. I've done it all in the sport and want to venture into administration. The time has come for an athlete to lead athletes. I know what is needed and what it takes for an athlete to succeed," said Mokoena.

Mokoena (far right) poses for a photo with fellow athletes and coach Emmarie Fouché-Prinsloo (far right front row) in 2015. Photo Credit: Emmarie Fouché-Prinsloo.

The four-time Olympian owns a freight forwarding and courier logistics company called YDG express. “The experience of working with people is helping me to run the company. The skills I learnt in Athletics I am now using in business, and my clients appreciate this. I have the drive to succeed, and this income is helping me to feed my family. I am willing to use the same drive to help athletes,” Mokoena said.

He wants to be more than an athlete and is eager to make a difference in the sport. The young businessman must be nominated by a club and then endorsed by the province for him to be able to contest the elections. The former Commonwealth and African champion said he has reached the end of his career and feels that he can make a difference in the boardroom. "There is a difference between being a leader who has played the sport and a leader that has not. I have the experience and the knowledge of both. If the athletes want a different voice then I am here and it's up to them to nominate me. I've raised my hand and indicated my availability to serve in the athletes' chairperson position," added Mokoena.

Dorah Mngwevu (centre) is currently the chairperson of the ASA Athletes Commission a position which Mokoena hopes to be elected to. Photo Credit: Mosibodi Whitehead Media.

There are twelve places on the ASA board and Mokeona is optimistic that he will take over the seat which has been occupied by Dorah Mngwevu since 2014. In order to be eligible for the elections, a member in good standing must be nominated by a club and endorsed by the province. The deadline for nominations and recommendations which had initially been set for March 3 has been moved to April to allow Athletics Gauteng North (AGN) to conclude their elections which have been set for March 20, and for the suspension of Kwa-Zulu Natal Athletics (KZNA) to be lifted in time for them to endorse candidates from that province.