Leandra school principal is passionate about athletics

Hloniphile Nkosi, the principal of PE Maziya Primary School in Leandra is also an international athletics icon after his involvement in many athletic competitions locally and internationally.

Nkosi’s athletics career began in 1990 when he was elected as an executive member of the Highveld Ridge Schools Athletics Committee where he obtained his South African Amateur Athletic Union, (SAAAU) Level 1 certificate, in 1994, the Athletics South Africa Level 2 certificate in 2006 and Athletics South Africa Level 3 certificate in 2018

Nkosi said participation in sports by either coaching, officiating or organising, is a requirement for every teacher.

“It happens after school, during weekends and in school holidays. As a teacher, you need to have passion and dedication as it entails hard work and very long hours.

“In 2001 I was selected by Athletics Mpumalanga for training as a doping control chaperone. In 2006 I was accredited as a trainee doping control officer by the South Institute of Drug-Free Sports (SAIDS). I became a fully accredited doping control officer.

“I achieved my international doping officer accreditation when I was selected as a member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) team for the 2015 All Africa Games in Congo-Brazzaville.”

According to Nkosi, doping control demands long hours and attention to detail as the anti-doping procedures are very technical with no errors allowed. He is motivated by his love, dedication and passion for athletics.

“I also wanted to prove that with hard work, patience, continuous learning and self-development, anyone can break barriers and become successful in any field, regardless of where you come from.

“Like me, I am originally from eMbalenhle and am now the principal in Leandra. I am also an international icon representing my hometown, province and the country at large,” said Nkosi.

Nkosi was also the international doping control officer during the Rugby 7s World Cup in 2022 held in Cape Town. Nkosi said he has obtained his World Athletics Safeguarding certificate this year.

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