Anti-dote for success, SA perspective

TEAM Zimbabwe’s “disastrous’’ outing at the Confederation of African Athletics 20th African Senior Championships in Durban between 22 and 26 June, which Yours Truly attended caught the eye of a certain Sifiso Cele.Ironically, Cele was the Championships’ Local Organising Committee (LOC) Media Operations Manager and was evidently over the moon after South Africa came tops on the final medals table with 33 medals made up of 16 gold, nine silver and eight bronze.
Countries like Botswana (three gold, a bronze, a silver) and Zambia (one gold, one bronze), both who have played second fiddle to Zimbabwe in regional youth and junior championships performed better than Zimbabwe, who could not garner any medals.
Quite essentially, I then asked Cele, his thoughts on how we can improve on our future performances on the bigger stage such as the African senior champs, the world’s or the Olympics?
“The starting point is that practice makes perfect,” said Cele.
“Athletics is like any sport. If you don’t have match-fitness just like we say in soccer, you can’t expect to compete at a higher level. Track and field is largely not strength of many of our countries because of the simple matter of facilities and related equipment, and by extension, the coaches who specialise in that field. Instead most countries base their athletics on road-running and cross country because it is the cheapest.
“This leaves many athletes not exposed to the track and field. Inadequate support structures tend to yield inadequate results. Also, there’s no use to have a national or club Track and Field (T&F) competition, when the facility and/or the equipment is of poor condition. On the track, most countries are specialising on running in particular middle distance running, like 800m upwards. You don’t see them much in hammer, hurdles, javelin, etc.
“Zimbabwe’s success might hinge on provision of relevant facilities within the communities, training of coaches in T&F which must be driven by the national federation, adequate funding of competitions namely those at national level first and at club level.
“Exposure of athletes to international events is also important. This does not always mean going overseas, but the ultimate goal is to have our athletes competing overseas. A well-financed programme would identify calendar opportunities to select athletes the country considers to be elite and those who are emerging, but at the fringes to be sent on a week or two weeks competition here in SA or to the High Performance Centres in Pretoria for instance.
“It is important to keep in mind that spending on two trips is not enough and is just a drop in the ocean. Regular competition and long term programmes spread over two to four-year cycles is how the world of reality sports operates. The days where we sent people to four competitions and expect to perform on sentiment are long gone.
“Serious Government commitment to long term funding of athletics and visible political support is also essential.
“In Zimbabwe, for instance, the national federation must look at forming partnerships with federations in Europe and embassies to fund exchange programme, competitions and coaching courses, etc.
“Of course, you also need massive media coverage of athletics which is a direct motivator to the athlete, the administrator, the Government funder and to sponsors and potential sponsors.
“In this regard, media houses must groom reporters who must specialise in athletics and newsrooms must stop prioritising soccer. For instance, when I was in charge of the sports desk in three different national publications, I created an athletics page. But then, it takes a good sports editor to see value in that,” said Cele.
On the reason behind the high riding South African athletes, Cele said:
“Schools are in competitions; our tertiary institutions are quite active and are running serious athletic clubs where their athletes are compelled to compete in certain championships, irrespective of who they are.
“There is also a growing access to relevant facilities, there’s a wide spread of trained coaches that go as far as infield events, which is not a speciality of most.
“South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC) who are the umbrella body in charge of Olympics and Commonwealth, also run a an elite programme for athletes called Operation Excellence (Opex).”
Yours truly was to learn that Opex was a support programme that allocates funding to help athletes who have the potential to qualify and return medals at the highest level of competition in multicoded events.
The process involves the SA government, the National Lottery and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Perhaps as a country we can take a leaf from our neighbour’s approach to athletics, which we understand has been embraced by the Batswana, if we are to churn out success stories. Food for thought!
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