Latest news with #KZNA
IOL News
27-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Sello Mokoena aims for a comeback in KZN Athletics presidential race
Former KZNA president Sello Mokoena (second right) has announced his bid to return to the hot seat at the regional sports body. Image: Matthew Middleton Former KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) president Sello Mokoena is preparing for another bid for the top position at the athletics body, just as he did for countless races during his running career. 'I've been a runner all my life, for 40 years at least, and I always started a race confident that I'd win — and in most cases, I did,' he said. There are cases where I didn't win, and those are very rare. If I didn't win, I went back, I prepared, and I came back again. Elections are exactly the same. 'In terms of our campaigning in the districts, we don't expect much competition. We think we're likely to win.' Mokoena was elected KZNA president in 2012 and served for seven years before stepping down in 2019. The regional athletics federation was without a leader for two years, having been placed under Athletics South Africa (ASA) administration during a tumultuous period. Steve Mkasi succeeded Mokoena after winning the elections in 2021 and is now bidding for a second term. The fact that Mokoena did not serve two full consecutive four-year terms leaves the door open for a return to the presidency. The veteran administrator and former dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal said he had been approached by clubs urging him to consider returning. 'The clubs have been coming to me for two years now, saying things are not going the right way and that KZNA needs people who are experienced and have a track record. They asked me to consider standing for elections in 2025,' said Mokoena. 'It took me a while to agree to that. But at the beginning of the year, around February, I made up my mind that I would do so and made that public.' The current vice-chairperson of the South African Sports Coaching Association, Mokoena is one of five nominees for the presidency, alongside Chris White, Mkasi, Romeo Hulane and Mandla Mngomezulu. White, an athletics coach, is also challenging for the vice-president role, along with Mngomezulu, Khura Buthelezi and Madoda Nsele. Mokoena, who also chairs the youth development agency Wildness, was asked what the athletics community in the province can expect should he be successful in the upcoming elections, scheduled for the week after the Comrades Marathon on 8 June. 'The most important thing in that position is the ability to communicate and bring parties together. In any organisation, you get different opinions and views, so the ability to bring people together to pull in one direction is your first priority,' he said. 'The second priority is to be able to plan in terms of developing the future of the sport. And then thirdly, without a budget, you can't do anything — so you've got to look at how you draw in resources from different stakeholders.' He added that court conflicts — such as the ongoing legal battle with the Comrades Marathon Association over ownership of the race — only serve to divide the federation. 'You want to ensure that your operations are smooth: your track and field, your cross-country, your road running — every member of the family should feel happy within that. That determines your success as well.' Steve Mkasi, left, is running for re-election as president of KZN Athletics. Image: Supplied Mkasi, meanwhile, has said he is 'ready to propel KZNA forward from the foundation we have laid,' highlighting the financial stability achieved under the current board. He also cited increased athlete participation at national and international levels, and a rise in competitions hosted across various disciplines. Michael Morton, one of the founder members of KZNA, believes the federation needs fresh leadership. He is backing White's bid for the presidency, citing the coach's educational background, proven development record, and experience in running a coaching facility in Pietermaritzburg and working within high-performance sport. As the contenders increasingly jockey for position, the KZNA presidential race is shaping up to be a tightly contested affair. It's just a matter of who will have the extra kick to see off their rivals on the home straight.
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Leadership battle looms as Mkasi eyes KZNA re-election
Steve Mkasi, left, is running for re-election as president of KZN Athletics. Photo: Supplied Veteran Pietermaritzburg-based coach Chris White had taken the initiative by announcing his intention to stand earlier this week. A bruising battle for leadership is anticipated, with the election scheduled to take place a week after the Comrades Marathon on June 8. Independent Media understands there are at least four potential candidates, including Mkasi, seeking election to the position but the true extent of the challenge will only become clear on Friday. KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) president Steve Mkasi has defended his record in office as he prepares to seek re-election, with the official nominations list for the organisation's presidency due to be released on Friday. Veteran athletics coach Chris White is ready to take on the established order at KwaZulu-Natal Athletics. Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Meanwhile Mkasi, a lawyer by profession, has emphasised the financial stability achieved under his leadership. The previous administration, led by Sello Mokoena, was placed under Athletics South Africa administration in 2018, with Mokoena stepping down the following year. Mkasi has also cited increased athlete participation at national and international levels, enhanced incentives for international competitors, and a rise in the number of competitions hosted across multiple disciplines by KZNA. He further highlighted the training of technical officials and coaches under the current board. 'I am proud of the work we have done. We have laid the perfect foundation for the future of a massively competitive and visible KZNA. 'We have increased the number of athletes benefitting from the High Performance programme from the 25 funded by the KwaZulu-Natal department of sport to an additional 50 athletes now supported by KZNA,' Mkasi told Independent Media Sport. A particular point of pride for Mkasi is the incorporation of schools and TVET colleges into the KZNA fold. 'Due to the financial difficulties experienced by government departments, particularly in education, we as a federation must create opportunities for young people to participate in our programmes and assist the education department in assembling teams to represent the KZN DOE at national competitions,' he said. However, critics have questioned the quality of competitions hosted by KZNA, suggesting a focus on quantity over quality. Mkasi's leadership style has also come under scrutiny. White is campaigning on a platform of greater integrity, accountability, and transparency within the federation. At least one athletics stakeholder approached by Independent Media declined to comment on the state of the sport in the province, citing fear of reprisals. Veteran coach Victor Vas, however, voiced strong criticism of both regional and national athletics leadership. Based in Salt Rock on the KZN North Coast, Vas has been an athletics coach for 40 years. 'Most federations in recent years have lost touch with reality — their sole purpose is to serve the athlete, not themselves,' he said. 'People with no knowledge or appreciation of athletics have taken up leadership positions and forgotten their fundamental duty: to serve athletes. 'Some of our elite athletes have succeeded not because of the federation but because of private support. The top athlete in KZN today, Zakithi Nene, a world-class 400m runner, would have struggled without private backing. The federation never supported him.' The race for control of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics looks set to be a fiery one — and the starter's gun has yet to be fired.
IOL News
20-05-2025
- Sport
- IOL News
Veteran coach Chris White bids for KZN Athletics presidency
Veteran athletics coach Chris White is ready to take on the established order at KwaZulu-Natal Athletics. Image: Supplied Veteran athletics coach and educator Christopher White has announced that he will challenge for the presidency of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) when nominations open, citing a need for reform, accountability, and a renewed commitment to athlete development. White, based in Pietermaritzburg and known for his athlete-centred approach, said he had considered leaving the sport altogether in frustration, but was ultimately inspired to act for the sake of the young athletes he mentors – including his own children. "I've been involved in athletics for nearly 20 years and, in recent years – particularly the seven years under Sello Mokoena and the last four under Steve Mkasi – things have gone from bad to worse,' according to 42-year-old White. 'I reached the point where I contemplated leaving the sport. 'But I have children who love athletics, and it's difficult for me to sit by and tell them, and the other young athletes I coach, that we must act with integrity, while the very people I work with in the federation appear to lack it.' White explained that he originally approached several clubs in the province to suggest candidates for the upcoming elections, with an eye on unseating Mkasi. 'The clubs came back and said, 'Chris, we want you to do it'. I agreed, but only if others would also stand for positions. "No single person can save a province – it's going to take a major collective effort. Thankfully, many said they would.' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Next Stay Close ✕ Athletics coach Chris White poses with some of his charges. Image: Supplied White is the founder of the Elite Performance Group and has held roles as national team coach. He is also a facilitator and moderator in the national coach education programme run by SASCOC. 'I've spent my career building systems that work,' White stated. 'KZN is home to extraordinary talent, but we need consistent structures that retain athletes and support coaches at every level.' 'Coach education is the backbone of national success,' he added. 'You can't expect world-class results from environments that are under-resourced and unsupported.' Beyond coaching, White plays a leadership role within the KZN Sports Confederation Coaches Committee. Meanwhile, KZNA president Mkasi, now completing his four-year term, also confirmed his intention to run for re-election. "I congratulate White and everybody else who is nominated to contest the upcoming KZNA elections. Elections are about choice and people who are the constituency of KZNA will vote for their board and commissions as they believe will take KZNA forward," Mkasi said, in a statement. He praised the collective efforts of the current board that has "worked tirelessly to improve the financial status of KZNA from a negative bank balance to four years of financial stability". "I cannot find what is bad to worse between the era prior to me becoming president and this current election cycle. I strongly believe in the idiom that you don't change anything that is not broken," Mkasi continued. "The board that I lead and I could be victims of our own successes. Our financial position as KZNA is known by all our members. "I have a feeling that some may be tempted to stand for positions with ulterior motives for the financial reserves. I would, therefore, urge the clubs to consider where KZNA was in 2018 to where it is in 2025 ... "I am standing and ready to propel KZNA forward from the foundation we have laid." The KZNA elections will take place a week after the Comrades Marathon on June 8. KZNA confirmed that the nominations list will be released on May 23.
