SEDIBENG.-  Former VUT Athletics Club Coach and legend Ian Harries passed on after spending 27 days in ICU.

Harris passed away on Saturday.

This was revealed to Sedibeng Ster Sport by Norman Dlomo who is one of the coaches developed by Harries who was well known for coaching athletes like the late Mbulaeni Mulaudzi (2004 Olympic 800m silver medalist, 2002 Commonwealth 800m Champions and John Morapedi, 1996 Olympia.

Harris was passionate about the development of athletes, spending his time serving a black child, fetching athletes from Sharpeville and Tsheirela in Boipatong, and driving them sometimes at night to and from athletics activities.

Harries spent his late days mentoring, coaches like Dlomo, Morena “Stix” Tsotetsi, Larry Beukes, and many others. Dlomo said Harries will be missed for his passion for athletics, especially for the development of black athletes.

“I learned a lot from Ian Harries about athletics and life in general. I was lucky to have known him and been my mentor. I still remember how he would go to townships even at night to drive some of the athletes. I still remember how he was nearly robbed at gunpoint during the Sharpeville riots. The whole athletics family will always honour and cherish your contribution to athletics,” said Dlomo.

Harries used to feature regularly in Sedibeng Ster Sports pages during his days as the Head Coach at VUT Athletics Club.