Sheba Sithole scoops double gold at the SA National Cross Country championships
The coach feels that black girls are not supported enough to pursue careers in sport.
The Ehlanzeni cross-country coordinator, Boikie Gama, had good reason to beam when he recently visited the Lowvelder offices. Accompanying him was grade six learner, Sheba Sithole, the reason for Gama’s glow of pride.
The u/12 cross-country virtuoso had just returned from a successful cross-country meet at Uitsig High School in Centurion, Pretoria, where she bagged a double gold at the South African National Cross Country Championships.
The White River Primary School learner represented Mpumalanga under the Definition Athletics Club banner and scooped the coveted double against runners from 19 regions in the country’s nine provinces.
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Mpumalanga achieved fifth spot out of the participating regions, obtaining five gold medals, eight team medals, two silvers and six bronze medals.
According to Gama, Sheba hails from Msogwaba Trust, which tops the list at number four in terms of crimes committed in the area.
The ardent athletics coach said, “I want different stakeholders to pay attention and assist me with a grass-roots development programme to assist young black girls to participate in sport. There are so many talents in our province which are not identified and supported enough.”
The other medallists include Liam Olivier and Lika Olivier, Elzi Gruger, Luzulke van Wyk and Lindiwe Tsotetsi.
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Sheba added that she was very proud of her accomplishments and said, “I started running two years ago and enjoy pushing myself to the limit against the competition.
“Running has enabled me to see many parts of South Africa, such as Port Elizabeth, where I competed in the ASA national championships, and Bloemfontein, where I competed in the schools’ championships.”
Sheba has a bright future ahead of her in cross-country and said that she aimed to continue running as she sees herself carving out a career for herself in the sport.
