Runners receive new kit
DUNKELD - Well-deserving athletes receive new running shoes with the help of the athletics community.
With the Olympic Games still fresh in the minds of South Africans, the Wanderers Athletics Club, Asics Athletics Shoes South Africa and The Sweat Shop decided to make a difference in the lives of a few well-deserving athletes of Marlboro Gardens Combined School.
Dylan Burgess, chairman of the Wanderers Athletics Club explained, “Today is really just about giving back. I met these kids at one of our races, and one of the 11-year-old’s beat me in a 5km race, running in slippers. I hunted down their coach, Marco [Bucarizza] and we decided to get these young athletes some proper running gear.”
Bucarizza, coach for the school’s long distance athletics team expressed his gratitude on receiving the generous donation. “Growing up as an athlete, I’ve always had an affinity towards being an educator and a trainer,” he said.
“I’ve been pushing my pupils to work hard and it has paid off. These athletes are all rather new to the sport, and the idea of long distance running was slow to pick up, but now we have a really strong team, with some of our athletes even competing in the national championships in September.”
Katlego Bogale, a Grade 6 long distance runner of the school who will be competing in the South African Championships in George was absolutely ecstatic about his new running shoes. “With these new shoes I might have a chance to win,” said Bogale.
