In a groundbreaking development for athletics in Africa, the World Wide Scholarships Organisation (WWS) has joined forces with the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) through a formal agreement signed in Cape Town recently.
This collaboration marks a significant commitment to uncover and nurture the continent’s athletic talents, to prepare them for the Olympic Games and World Championships.
The partnership promises to transform the landscape of athletics on the continent. Under the guiding principles of this agreement, WWS will be responsible for identifying promising young athletes and providing them with a multi-disciplinary development strategy tailored to their individual needs.
Among the athletes that have already been identified are South Africans Karabo Letebele (sprinter), Alethea Visser (long jump), and Morné Engelbrecht (hurdles).
The agreement was signed by Munya Maraire, CEO of WWS, and Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, President of the CAA. They expressed enthusiasm for a partnership that promises to transform the landscape of athletics on the continent. Under the guiding principles of this agreement, WWS will be responsible for identifying promising young athletes and providing them with a multi-disciplinary development strategy tailored to their individual needs.
Maraire said the WWS will manage athletes and sponsorships, ensuring financial sustainability.
“We have to get to every different nation, find the talent that is there and give them a plan of development in which WWS will be involved in from A to Z,” said Maraire, adding that the agreement will reshape African sports, empower athletes for global success and foster inclusivity and sustainable development.
Malboum saw the agreement as the beginning of a new era.
“I’m dealing with an African Organisation that has the same view, we want to keep our talented athletes on the continent by using all the opportunities that Africa can offer to athletes to prevent them from changing nationality and to prevent them from travelling far away to get high performance training.”
The key features of the programme include joint scouting and world-class training for young African athletes, educational and athletic development centres, career guidance, sponsorship access, and international exposure, regional and continental tournaments, centralised sponsorship for sustainable programs and enhanced digital presence and global visibility.
A CAA spokesperson said the primary focus is on the Africa Junior Championships in July for athletics recruitment, anticipating the presence of 54 nations. Additionally, the basketball showcase in July will feature university coaches from the USA. A talent identification for other sports will take place in August.
