Fairfield Athletics Club athletes are hard at work preparing to participate in various big local races which are expected in April and May in the OR Tambo region.
Fairfield is an athletic club based in Dosi, a small rural location in Mthatha.
All 27 athletes are from rural underprivileged areas.
According to the head coach, Nwabisa Magade, out of the 27 athletes, only 20 are fully registered (with licences) and they are affiliated with Athletics Transkei.
In April, the Fairfield athletes will travel to Port St John’s to participate in the P.S.J Ocean 21 race, which includes a 21km race. However, due to a financial crisis, only one or two athletes will manage to travel to P.S.J and again on May 1 about nine senior athletes will participate in the 21km Mthatha Marathon.
Due to lack of funds some athletes will not participate in other races.
On March 19, the Fairfield senior athletes participated in the Mercedes Benz 15km race and they were represented by Nwabisa Magade and Mongezeleli Ngomane.
On March 21, 18 junior athletes from the club travelled to Ngqeleni for a 5km race.
In the 5km race for girls, in the nine to 11 years category, Imange Tibe came third, while Mihla Ndamase came fourth.
In the 5km race for boys, in the nine to 11 years category, Esinako Magade secured the sixth position and Kungawo Njemla was in eighth position.
Then, in the 5km, 12 to 14 years boys’ category, Amila Njemla finished in seventh position and Hlomla Mzola in ninth place while in the 10km open category, Azile Nocanda finished fifth. In the 21km juniors’ category, Iviwe Njemla claimed fourth place.
According to the founders of the athletics club they want to encourage kids to fully participate in sport.
