Former KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) president Sello Mokoena is preparing for another bid for the top position at the athletics body, just as he did for countless races during his running career.
“I’ve been a runner all my life, for 40 years at least, and I always started a race confident that I’d win – and in most cases, I did,” he said.
“There are cases where I didn’t win, and those are very rare. If I didn’t win, I went back, I prepared, and I came back again. Elections are exactly the same.
“In terms of our campaigning in the districts, we don’t expect much competition. We think we’re likely to win.”
Mokoena was elected KZNA president in 2012 and served for seven years before stepping down in 2019.
The regional athletics federation was without a leader for two years, having been placed under Athletics South Africa (ASA) administration during a tumultuous period.
Steve Mkasi succeeded Mokoena after winning the elections in 2021, and is now bidding for a second term.
The fact that Mokoena did not serve two full consecutive four-year terms leaves the door open for a return to the presidency.
The veteran administrator and former Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of KwaZulu-Natal said he had been approached by clubs urging him to consider returning.
“The clubs have been coming to me for two years now, saying things are not going the right way, and that KZNA needs people who are experienced and have a track record. They asked me to consider standing for elections in 2025,” said Mokoena.
“It took me a while to agree to that.
“But at the beginning of the year, around February, I made up my mind that I would do so, and made that public.”
The current vice-chairperson of the South African Sports Coaching Association, Mokoena is one of five nominees for the presidency, alongside Chris White, Mkasi, Romeo Hulane and Mandla Mngomezulu.
White, an athletics coach, is also challenging for the vice-president role, along with Mngomezulu, Khura Buthelezi and Madoda Nsele.
Mokoena, who also chairs the youth development agency Wildness, was asked what the athletics community in the province can expect should he be successful in the upcoming elections, scheduled for the week after the Comrades Marathon on June 8.
“The most important thing in that position is the ability to communicate and bring parties together. In any organisation, you get different opinions and views, so the ability to bring people together to pull in one direction is your first priority,” he said.
“The second priority is to be able to plan in terms of developing the future of the sport.
“And then, thirdly, without a budget, you can’t do anything – so you’ve got to look at how you draw in resources from different stakeholders.”
He added that court conflicts – such as the ongoing legal battle with the Comrades Marathon Association over ownership of the race – only serve to divide the federation.
“You want to ensure that your operations are smooth: your track and field, your cross-country, your road running – every member of the family should feel happy within that.
“That determines your success as well.”
Mkasi, meanwhile, has said he is “ready to propel KZNA forward from the foundation we have laid,” highlighting the financial stability achieved under the current board.
He also cited increased athlete participation at national and international levels, and a rise in competitions hosted across various disciplines.
Michael Morton, one of the founder members of KZNA, believes the federation needs fresh leadership.
He is backing White’s bid for the presidency, citing the coach’s educational background, proven development record, and experience in running a coaching facility in Pietermaritzburg and working within high-performance sport.
As the contenders increasingly jockey for position, the KZNA presidential race is shaping up to be a tightly contested affair.
It’s just a matter of who will have the extra kick to see off their rivals on the home straight.
