VANDERBIJLPARK.- Toma Tsotetsi Training Camp is a unique project on a mission to give local athletes the best training.
This training camp has attracted the top local runners in Sedibeng. Rose ‘Pona’ Jijane, a former Bayana Banyana defender turned runner, is one of the athletes participating in this camp.
Sedibeng Ster’s S’khuluma no… tracked down this former runner, Tsotetsi, to hear more about this unique project in this exclusive interview.
Q: You’re one of the top runners in the Vaal and compete on international stages. Why do you focus on training athletes, young and old?
A: Athletics is and will be always close to my heart. This sport made me the person that I am today. This training camp is part of ploughing back to the community.
Q: How do you feel training top athletes like former Banyana Banyana defender, Rose Jijane?
A: To be honest, I didn’t know she was a soccer player until my son told me who she was. I’m very grateful to work with Rose because her commitment is unquestionable. She is always in front, and you can see her professionalism is on another level. However, she is not the only top runner who is part of this training camp, many other well-known athletes are part of the training camp.
Q: What inspired you to start this training camp?
A: Like I told you, athletics is my life and after I retired completely, I sat down to figure up how best to assist these athletes and use my experience to the best of my ability to help. Three years ago I came up with the idea of Toma Training Camp to plough back into the community. I enjoy this because I work with talented runners who want to make a name for themselves in athletics.
Q: What do you want to achieve with this training camp apart from just training athletes?
A: Well, I have a great vision about this training camp. I want to become one of the best, not only in the Vaal, but in Gauteng where athletes from all over the country will come for training. It is a work in progress and I’m happy with the positive response from the local athletes, especially their support.
