Defeated ASA rivals refocus on KZN Athletics presidency battle

TWO of the rivals for the position of KwaZulu-Natal Athletics (KZNA) president will not have long to recover from their defeat in the race for the top position at Athletics South Africa (ASA), as they refocus their attention on the battle to lead their regional federation.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

Current KZNA president Steve Mkasi and former president Sello Mokoena lost out to the re-elected James Moloi at the national federation's quadrennial general meeting in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni, on Saturday.

Mkasi and Mokoena will next square off for the KZNA presidency at the body's quarterly general meeting on June 14, alongside Chris White, Romeo Hulane and Mandla Mngomezulu.

The build-up to the national federation's elections was particularly dramatic for Mokoena, who needed a last-minute court order to have his name included on the ballot. He had accused the national and regional federations of blocking him from competing despite being nominated by clubs.

“From the court order on Thursday, to putting my name on the ballot Friday, then all of a sudden at short notice going to Joburg - it really was dramatic,” Mokoena told Independent Media Sport.

He is refusing to dwell on that, however, and has congratulated the weekend's winners.