Athletics in KwaZulu-Natal could experience a slow and painful death unless four big issues are addressed, according to a leading official.
Mandla Mngomezulu, the deputy president and media communications director of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA), said the four “cancerous and deadly” matters are lack of media publicity, racism, dearth of sponsorships and lack of women leadership.
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Mngomezulu said it was disturbing that athletics, especially road running, as it was starting to be liked by everybody and by people of different age groups, there remained problems to be dealt with.
This sport is growing fast all over and people are now making it a lifestyle, but there are some things that need to be cleared to go forward
Mngomezulu claimed that nowadays media coverage, print and electronic, is biased, especially on television.
“You must take note if the event is on TV it can be the Two Oceans, Soweto Marathon, New York Marathon, Durban International Marathon or Soweto Marathon and the TV cameras will mostly concentrate on the men’s race not women.
“So in short, the cameras will spend about 80% of their time only focusing on men, why?,” said Mngomezulu.
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He also indicated the local media has a bad tendency of “choosing their own” races to cover.
“Road races in the townships are not covered at all.” Mngomezulu shot down any type of racism in the sport , saying it was “heartbreaking” and a big concern especially when it comes to sponsorship and prize money.
He said it is still disturbing that even after 30 years of democracy in the country sponsors and local businesses are still “choosy” when funding events. “It looks lopsided and unreal, but it’s the truth.
“The majority of sponsors or businesses still look at the colour of your skin for sponsorship.
“Black athletics clubs in the townships are not sponsored and yet those are the ones that are really battling,” said Mngomezulu.
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He also strongly feels that lack of female leaders in athletics is another huge challenge because they are always overlooked or not active.
“It is still a problem that women are either left in the cold or bypassed when it comes to positions and need to be addressed once and for all.
“It must not look like it’s a favour for them to be promoted or put in influential positions.
“The truth is sport administrators are equal and the same, irrespective of sex or colour,” he said.
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