14 Dec 2016

Athletes in Bobonong could not have been happier after reading the article in the Dailynews of December 1 entitled, Athletics enters constituency competitions.

Most of the athletes interviewed said they had l been waiting for athletics to be included in the constituency sports competitions.

 One youth, Dikeledi Matlole said it was painful to see people who were good in athletics at school letting their talents ‘rot’ just because they do not have a platform to showcase them, especially after finishing or dropping out of junior or senior schools.

She said the out of school youth did not have any idea on how they could join athletics clubs, which were also mostly based in towns.

Matlole said introducing athletics in constituency sports competitions came at the right time to unearth a lot of good athletes, who were ‘hidden’ in rural areas.

For his part, Oarabile Poitshego said even though they were still waiting for the rules and regulations that would run athletics in constituency sports competitions, the idea to introduce athletics was a step in the right direction that the Ministry of Youth Empowerment, Sports and Culture Development needs to be praised for.

With the addition of athletics, he said the ministry was implementing its true mandate of sports development.

Poitshego appealed to youth who were good in athletics to utilise the opportunity to improve their talent and live off sport.

Coordinator of Bobonong constituency sports competitions, Albert Madome said he believes that a lot of athletics stars could be discovered through this programme, just as football managed to unearth the talents of the likes of Segolame Boy and many others in the constituency sports competitions.

He said the new development would also keep youth away from alcohol and drug abuse, especially those who felt constituency sports competitions did not cater for their interests.

Madome appealed to Bobonong youth athletes to take athletics seriously as the programme presents another chance for them to build their future in sports, especially those who did not do well in academics. ENDS