With the lockdown, all sporting activities have either been cancelled or postponed due to the COVID-19 global pandemic.
Clubs and individual players and athletes have come with ways and activities to keep themselves fit and busy.
All athletes and players agreed that they were adhering to the lockdown regulations and following all precautions aimed at stopping the spread of this virus. They also appealed to the team’s multitude of supporters and the public to listen and follow the safety measures against the virus.
Minister of sports, arts and culture Nathi Mthethwa has given the green light to basketball, fencing, football, handball, hockey, rugby (only players and support staff for the local elite league) figure skating, athletics (preparation for national championships and Olympics qualification), ice hockey, motorsport and netball (leagues only) as the only contact sports that are allowed to train.
While other sporting codes like athletics have been allowed to start training under strict regulations, boxing as a contact sport has been left out of the codes that are now permitted to start training under level 3 of the pandemic.
Emmanuel Mabaso chairperson and coach of Nkangala Athletics Academy (NAA) said that even though they are complying with the regulations set by the government and doing their best to prevent the spread of the pandemic, they have been dealt a blow by the pandemic.
Minister Mthethwa has set up a relief fund for artists and sports people; some have applied and have not received any response from the department. Mabaso indicated that they have applied as a club and individual athletes have also applied and have not received a response from the department.
“As a club, we were supposed to host a race which we had to cancel. Some athletes were supposed to run in the Comrades Marathon, Two Oceans Marathon and the Loskop Dam Marathon, all of which has been cancelled. We are still waiting for the fund. Some athletes depend on races for income and are now faced with huge financial challenges,” said Mabaso.
Mabaso also added to say some athletes are finding it very difficult to train on their own with no races to compete and are losing interest in the sport. He tries very hard to motivate them and to give them hope.
One of the well-known veteran athletes Nondidwa Nel Mtsweni shared the same sentiments and said while he kept himself busy training the cancellation of races has hit them hard.
Even the future does not look good on future races as he was supposed to defend his titles as the champion of The Mandela Day Howick Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal in August, FNB 10km race in Gauteng and the FNB City Run, FNB Surv Run series which started in Cape Town and the Mandela Race at the Union Buildings in Pretoria.
“I will urge athletes to keep on training as to keep fit and to stay safe,” ended Mtsweni.
Athletes are permitted to train as individuals from 06:00 to 18:00.
