Development, supporting struggling clubs and mending strained relationships - Mngomezulu launches KZNA Presidential campaign

In his ambition to become the next president of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA), Mandla Mngomezulu outlined the importance of athletics development in rural and township areas. Speaking to members of the media at Max's Lifestyle in Umlazi this morning (Wednesday 21 May), where he took them through his manifesto for the upcoming provincial elections, Mngomezulu emphasised the need for the establishment of a development fund to support an athletics development academy and KZN-based High Performance Centre.

Mngomezulu speaking during the launch of his KZNA Presidential campaign. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"There is a big gap in terms of terms of athletics in rural and township areas compared to the cities. For instance, the number of races are very limited in the more impoverished areas. In the past, we had promising races in these areas like the Chesterville 10km, Nquthu 10km, Township to Township but today they no longer exist," said the athletics administrator who is a tax law specialist by profession and has served as the KZNA Deputy President since 2021.

Mngomezulu is expected to go head to head to with current leader Steve Mkasi and Pietermaritzburg based Athletics coach Chris White. Elaborating on his eight point manifesto, the co-founder of the Xcel Running Club stated that should he emerge victorious at the elections scheduled for June 14 at the Westville Civic Centre, he will prioritise the promotion of rural and township athletics by giving them competitions and reviving some dormant events and struggling clubs.

Mngomezulu will take on the incumbent Steve Mkasi (back left) for the position of President at the KZNA Elections on June 14. Photo Credit: Durban International Marathon.

"The clubs in these areas I mentioned end up closing down because of a lack of funds. Most of these club are formed by people who love running but don't have much money. Which is why a federation must make means in terms of establishing a development fund, where we must have a certain funds allocated to assisting to keeping them afloat. And it’s possible to generate those funds because in running we have business people who are social runners," he explained while underlining the need for the province to have a proper academy, pro-athletes support structure and a programme involving universities in order to ensure that future champions obtain athletics scholarships and bursaries after finishing high school.

Mngomezulu also touched on the federation’s need to mend relationships with key stakeholders. He was alluding to the strained relations between organisers of races such as the Comrades Marathon, Mandela Mandela Marathon and East Coast Big walk which in the past contributed over R3 million to the coastal federation but have recently been involved in well documented disputes with KZNA.

Mngomezulu is pictured here with CMA Chairperson Mnqondisi Ngcobo (far left). He says mending strained relationships between KZNA and key stakeholders such as the Comrades Marathon Association will be top of his list of priorities. Photo Credit: Supplied.

"In the past, the Mandela Marathon used to attract close to 19 000 athletes, Comrades has over 20 000 and so does the Big Walk. All three pf these events have ended up contributing to the functioning of the office in terms of the race levies that they pay. At the moment, the office is still fighting in court with the Comrades Marathon Association which is wrong. I think getting those big races on board will contribute to making us great again. These are things I'm hoping to change when I enter the office," he said.