Phalula twins rally behond Karabo in CGA elections
The twin sisters have already accepted the nomination to serve at CGA amid their support for change in CGA and for women's empowerment.
In an attempt to increase women’s participation in athletics, the Phalula twins, Lebo and Lebogang, have declared their support for the presidential candidate Karabo Mabilo to head the Central Gauteng Athletics (CGA) upcoming elections to be held on March 26 at the Germiston Stadium.
The twin sisters have already accepted the nomination to serve at CGA amid their support for change in CGA and for women’s empowerment. Lebo was nominated to the position of chairperson in the athlete commission portfolio, Lebohang has been nominated in the track and field commission.
The sisters have big plans for the development of athletics, starting with one of their novice initiative already in the pipeline. The project aims to keep girl children actively involved in sport and that they will be able to continue to participate beyond the age of 16.
The twins hope that this will provide girls who actively participate in sport with a holistic supportive structure.
Among their plans is also to lobby for the introduction of resources to assist in bridging the gap in the current CGA sporting structures and also to ensure that there is a progressive growth in the development of female coaches.
The sisters said they hoped to be voted to the CGA sporting governing structures so they could both bring with them the experience they’ve gained over the years growing up in the athletics structures. They believe they can help them take care of the needs of athletes and also ensure administrators prioritised athletes.
“We both grew up in sport and we have both gained valuable knowledge about athletics and the development of athletes. We believe the development of athletes is necessary, especially that of women athletes. We are at the pinnacle of our careers and want to see young females continue to dominate the sport,” explained the twin sisters.
Their participation in school (township) sport, in their junior years, was what assisted in exposing their talent. And with the help of a school teacher, who identified them and began maturing them, the twin sisters now want to return the gesture and assist budding athletes to continue developing talent their talent for the country.
“We feel that our brand can help CGA attract sponsors, which may help to bring back coaching clinics and talent identification initiatives in township schools. That is how we were also discovered, as well,” continued the twins.
The three-some approach of Mabilo and the Phalula twins in local sport is seen as the dawn of the rise of women in sport to the same level of the current athletic patriarchy, which is based on a heritage of brotherhood that continues to see power and positions passed down from generation to generations of men.
“There is nothing more powerful than women collaborating and now more than ever it feels like we are joining hands as leaders and celebrating not only our differences but similarities and goals to take athletics forward.
There are indeed exciting times. We will be able to make a significant change and contribute to the success of CGA,” said Mabilo.
