Premier proud of Limpopo Olympic team

Premier Stan Mathabatha has congratulated the Limpopo born athletes selected for the national team that will represent South Africa at the Rio Olympic Games in Brazil from 5 to 21 August.
Caster Semenya will have her eye on gold as she tackles the world’s best over 800 m while soccer players Thabiso Kutumela, Gift Motupa, Eric Matoho have all been included in the u.23 team.
“We wish to congratulate them on their selection.
“We are proud of them and they must remember, they carry the hopes and aspirations of not only South Africa, but Limpopo’s people. I have no doubt that they will show their prowess beyond expectation,” Mathabatha said.
Sport, Arts and Culture MEC Nandi Ndalane also congratulated the four athletes. She also expressed condolences to the family of South African Rally Champion Gugu Zulu who died on Monday.
“He was an inspiration to many a township lad who thought it impossible to enter this kind of sport. He was adventurous to the core but a well-loved person. The motor racing and cycling industry will never be the same without Gugu.
“To the athletes from Limpopo who are in the South African Rio Olympics Team 2016 we appeal to represent our country well in memory of Gugu,” she said.
Motupa hails from Ga-Maja outside Polo­kwane and has been a livewire for the South African u.23 side. Kutumela is from Mokopane and helped his former team Baroka Football Club to gain automatic promotion to the Premier Soccer League. Matoho hails from Tshiombo village near Thohoyandou. He made his debut for Bafana Bafana on 14 May 2011 against Tanzania in an international friendly.
Semenya is from Masehlohong in the Mo­letjie area and she made name for herself when she won gold in the women’s 800 metres at the 2009 World Championships.

Story & Photos: Herbert Rachuene: From Left to Right: Gift Mutupa, Thabiso Kutumela and Caster Semenya.