Organisers celebrate success of inaugural Siyathuthuka race aimed at developing junior athletes in rural Zululand

Organizers of the inaugural Siyathuthuka Development 10km race, held on Sunday, 19 October at the Prince Mangosuthu Stadium in Ulundi are upbeat about the success of the event which was organised to recognise and reward promising junior athletes.

The event was dominated by junior athletes. Photo Credit: Supplied.

Ayanda Thabede emerged victorious in the men's junior 10km category, earning a handsome prize purse of R4,000, while Amahle Ngema and Tebogo Molefe secured R2,000 and R1,500 for finishing in second and third respectively. Wenziwe Khumalo was the sole junior participant in the women's category, which underscores the need for talent identification and coaching of junior girls in KZN townships and rural areas. Sabelo Ndlovu, from Siyathuthuka Development Athletics Club, praised the initiative which is part of the club’s overall development framework

"Our primary motivation for investing more in junior athletes is to encourage their active participation in sports. Unfortunately, many junior athletes tend to disengage from the system due to their involvement in track and cross-country events, which offer limited financial incentives. Recognizing that road running is a more lucrative field, we have decided to host a race focused on this discipline. The opportunity to win a substantial prize of R4,000 is a powerful incentive, as it can bring about significant positive change in the winner's life,” explained Ndlovu.

"In the past, we have organized track and field and cross-country leagues, and I am satisfied with the attendance of more than 100 participants at our first event. To cultivate a successful event, it is crucial to initiate it on a small scale and progressively expand it into a dominant force. This strategic approach is driven by a commitment to supporting young athletes and motivating them to continue participating in the sport. As a development club, our emphasis must be on fostering growth for the benefit of our athletes.”

Buoyed by the success of organising their first road running event, Siyathuthuka are positive about what lies ahead in their drive to create more opportunities for junior athletes in rural Zululand. Ndlovu revealed plans to expand the race which is backed by KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) such that future events can pay the top ten finishers.

"I believe going forward, we must engage further to better promote the race. If we secure more sponsors to support us to at least pay the top 10, it would be great. I'm certain more participants will attend our event once we achieve this. I'll continue to commit myself to making development a priority in the province," he concluded.