KZNA and DUT enter into partnership to give athletes access to injury treatment and educational opportunities

KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) has entered into a pioneering new partnership with the Durban University of Technology (DUT) to strengthen the Sub-Elite Development Programme by advancing athlete support through education, science, and performance development. This landmark announcement was formally made on Monday, 9 March, at DUT’s Durban Ritson Campus. Speaking after the announcement, an excited KZNA President Steve Mkasi said the deal will help athletes to perform better. 

"This is a very good partnership as most of the athletes will benefit from this - especially elite and sub elite," he explained, defining sub-elite athletes as this who after showing promise and receiving coaching were on the cusp of breaking into the elite ranks of South Africa's professional athletics clubs. 

Mkasi beams after signing the new partnership. Photo Credit: KZNa.

In practical terms the three-year collaboration between KZNA and DUT’s Department of Chiropractic within the Faculty of Health Sciences, will focus on injury prevention, rehabilitation, and performance enhancement for elite athletes aiming to qualify for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics under the umbrella of Project 350, while assisting sub-elite athletes.

"We discovered that many of our athletes come from the rural areas where there is no help. Even those living in the urban areas are lacking knowledge regarding health issues they face. So now, athletes will have their injuries treated by professionals. They will also assist assist coaches to prepare athletes competition."

Mkasi looks on as KZNA Deputy President Khura Bithelezi receives treatment from a DUT student. Photo Credit: KZNA.

Mkasi who was re-elected as KZNA president last year revealed that they also have plans to add an education and training component to the partnership which would allow athletes to study and prepare for life after retirement from professional athletics. 

"We want to go beyond assisting athletes with injuries. We want to ensure that athletes get an opportunity to study in order to feed their families after they retire from the sport. We also want to help them to further studies at the university level once they have completed Matric. We want to keep these athletes in our province because in the past we have lost so many to Gauteng and other provinces as they end up leaving because we didn't have a university that caters for sport."