Lack of preparation blamed for abysmal athletics schools meet at UL
Oversized clothing, athletes competing on empty stomachs and an all round dismal performance marred the recent South African Primary School Athletics meeting hosted by Limpopo.
POLOKWANE – In what has generally been described as a dismal performance, the provincial primary schools athletics team could only muster two medals at the South African Primary School Athletics meeting for which Limpopo played host at the Oscar Mpetha Stadium at the University of Limpopo from March 25-26.
Sources close to the event and some parents blame the overall lack of development in the sport and the team’s performance on the inability by the Education Department to, among others, provide much-needed resources for athletes.
Photos supplied to Review show, among others, primary school learners dressed in running apparel which is significantly oversized, while some did not receive team tracksuits and running equipment meant to have been supplied. To add insult to injury, some athletes reported having to compete on empty stomachs.
The lack of advanced preparation camps and coaching sessions contributed to the team’s dismal performance as they finished the event in last position with a meagre bronze and silver medal.
The Western Cape was announced as the overall winner after collecting 32 gold medals in all track and field events.
Concerned parents blamed the custodians of school sport in the province, the Department of Education and the Department of Sport for failing Limpopo’s young athletes.
“Just the fact that our athletes had to wear oversized clothes at a national showcase of this sort is a clear indication that there is no order from the higher powers, and that school sport is not taken seriously. Some athletes did not have a team tracksuit and running gear, which were supposed to be organised by the department in advance. Accommodation was also a problem. The athletes were fed slices of bread for the duration of the competition while athletes from other provinces ate proper, nutritional food. It was shambolic and embarrassing to the province as the event host,” one concerned parent, whose identity is withheld, remarked.
Another parent said the department could at least have organised proper training camps for the young athletes.
“Our athletes only camped for a day and that is not enough, as they need plenty of time to prepare. For some of these athletes it was the first time that they had seen this track. We would have loved a situation where they had ample time to camp and prepare thoroughly, as is done in other provinces.”
Some parents pleaded with the departments to organise coaches for the athletes in the near future.
“If one looks at athletes from top performing provinces, including the Western Cape and Gauteng, one notices they have no shortage of clubs and coaches. Their athletes don’t simply run with other learners at school and regard that as training. They train with their club members. The department should contract coaches as teachers are already overburdened. They can’t do school work and focus on athletics activities. There are many graduates in sport management who could assist our learners for these national events.”
The issue of the venue also seemed to have irked parents.
“The Peter Mokaba Stadium in the city was initially chosen as host stadium, but the stadium did not meet national standards as the track is not in good condition. Both departments were told about the matter way in advance, but our pleas fell on deaf ears. These departments don’t really support school sport, and don’t care either. Besides oversized clothes and the food they were given, there is little regard for athletes’ overall well-being. It was just window-dressing for provincial executives, with little regard for the real stars of the show.” Mosebjane Kgaffe, the acting spokesperson for the Department of Education said the department is not aware of any grievances brought by parents.
“Learners who received oversized clothes are free to come and exchange these for the correct fit. Accommodation was available for all learners and it was the choice of some parents not to utilise it. Learners have a choice of the food they want to eat for the day,” he remarked.
Asked about the decision to host the event at University of Limpopo as opposed to Peter Mokaba Stadium, Kgaffe said the Peter Mokaba did not meet the South African Schools Athletics required standards for track and field.
The names of the two athletes who won medals at the event could not be confirmed at the time of going to print.
