No funding for Disabled Champs
After much effort and training KZN's disabled athletes will not be able to defend their top rankings of last year because of a lack of funds.
DISABLED athletes in KZN have been left devastated after the Department of Sport and Recreation announced there was no budget to send athletes to the Nednbank National championships for the Physically Disabled in Johannesburg from 29 March to 2 April.
Grant Oosthuyzen, a development officer for Disability Sports KZN said disabled athletes are outraged that their intense training and hard work towards bringing home medals from the National championships could be in vain.
“For the last few years KZN has been part of the Nedbank Championships for the physically disabled. We have been first in South Africa for some time and brought back many medals. Some of our members have even represented South Africa overseas. Funding has always been an issue to get but every year after much hassle the Department of Sport and Recreation has found a way to get funding from the annual budget.
“However, this year despite months of training, athletes have been told by the sports body that KZN wont take part, as there is no money,” Oosthuyzen explained.
The lack in funding affects all categories at the National Championships despite KZN being “blessed” with some top sports athletes, Oosthuyzen said. “KZN is top of the log so how can we not defend our position. Also the games are less than a month away, how can the department only decide at this late stage the money is finished. Where did it go? There were funds for the able bodied champs just a few months ago? Surely a portion of the funding should have been put aside for the Nedbank Championship which is for the physically challenged,” he asked.
Oosthuysen said the Champs was a big “once a year competition” and KZN are the current reigning champions. “This is the only team sport these serious physically challenged people have. These same people get told via email, “Sorry no funds, so if you want to go pay for yourself.” That is asking people who generally don’t earn much to pay for transport, accommodation, helpers and drivers etc. Note that the athletes are scholars and some have no family support, others are cared for at home as employment for the physically disabled is very hard to secure. This is a tragic example of mismanagement and our most disadvantaged people are the victims once again. Strangely enough if KZN do not attend there will be a huge fine as the grounds, halls, etc. are already in place for all the players who attend. Why pay fines – send the players,” he said..
“As a disabled athlete I would like to say on behalf of my fellow athletes that we are angry and very disappointed. We can only wonder what the future will hold for these amazing athletes who have little else to look forward to,” Oosthuysen concluded.
Local paralympic shot-put star, Tyrone Pillay said, he was shocked and disappointed about the lack in funds for disabled athletes this year. “When I heard about it last week, I was very upset, because I try to achieve my goals with the idea of being a role model to the young disabled athletes. To see that they are not going to get that opportunity, for developing to the next level, is very sad. It is unfortunate that the news has emerged so close to the Championships were there is little time to do our own fundraising.
“I believe that disability sport might die in this country if it is not taken seriously and that is very sad because we have so much talent and KZN has always had a big footprint in disability sport.”
Meanwhile the Department of Sport and Recreation spokesman, Thabo Mofokeng said, the Department had moved away from supporting mass-based festivals to talent identified programmes. “There have been budget cuts and this has led to DISSA being stringent in the number of athletes representing the Province at National tournaments. Athletes selected in provincial teams, must be “podium finishes” at a national level. This applies to all sport codes,” he said.
