Mokoena is not one of our members - Phantane Athletics Club

Controversial former Kwa-Zulu Natal Athletics (KZNA) boss Sello Mokoena is in a race against time to enter the Athletics South Africa (ASA) elections. The eagerly awaited elections take place on 8 May at the Southern Sun Hotel in Kempton Park and it appears Mokoena is struggling to get a club to nominate him. The deadline for nomination and recommendation is 3 March.

According to the ASA's constitution, in order for a candidate to be eligible to run in the elections, a club must nominate a member in a good standing, and then the province must endorse the nomination. When he told #TheTopRunner that he intended to run for president last week, Mokoena claimed that he is a member of the Phantane Athletics Club in Durban. But Phantane has distanced itself from Mokoena saying that he is not a member of their club. Club founder Mduduzi Khumalo says they want nothing to do with him.

Members of the Phantane Athletics Club dressed in their club colours. Photo Credit: Mduduzi Khumalo.

"I read in the papers that Mokoena the former KZNA boss is running for the Phantane Athletics Club. But that is not true. He contacted me last year and expressed his wishes to join the club. Nothing was finalized and we did not talk this year as we were waiting for licenses and that is how it ended. There are no forms nor paperwork that indicate that he joined us. At the moment, we are not accepting new members," Khumalo explained.

Phantane Athletics Club founder and elite athlete coach Mdu Khumalo (background) refutes Sello Mokoena's claims that he is a member of their club. Photo Credit: Cuan Walker.

But Mokoena hit back saying this is nothing but a deliberate plot to sabotage his presidential ambitions. He said he will still get his name onto the nomination list with or without Phantane. "Yes, technically I do not belong to the Phantane Club. It's correct, we were in talks and agreed in principle that I would train and run with them. The talks started in December. I was under the impression that I was a member of their running club. Khumalo is dishonest and is influenced by other forces to help them to sabotage my presidential campaign." said a furious Mokoena.

Sello Mokoena says he will contest ASA's May 8 elections come hell or high water. Photo Credit: Sello Mokoena.

Mokoena said he would go back to his old club (which he refused to mention by name) to help him with the nomination. He said come hell or high water, he would contest the elections. "I did nothing wrong to him (Khumalo) or the club. I will go back to old my club. Some people are character assassinating me. They say that I can't even run a créche. Why would anyone not want to be associated with me unless it's sabotage," questioned Mokoena?