ITS NO wonder there’s no title sponsor.
The Soweto Marathon is under siege as members are at odds with each other, as a result it will or not take place this year.
This follows media statements issued by suspended officials (Sello Khunou, Ishe Sadiki and Pamela Tainton) that Soweto Marathon 2023 will not take place.
In contrast, today, we received communication that it will go on, as ‘planned’ according to Central Gauteng Athletics.
The media statement read: ”On Sunday 18 June 2023 as part of the ongoing engagement, CGA met with Soweto Athletics Clubs (in attendance is 15 out of 17 beneficiary clubs) to ensure that the race is hosted successfully following the suspension of the above Trust members. The clubs welcomed the suspension of the 3 members and clearly indicated to CGA that the race must take place in 2023.”
It continued: “The Beneficiaries at the above-mentioned meeting also felt that with only 4 members remaining on the structure, 2 additional members are added on the working committee to ensure that the race is successfully organized this year.”
Last year the marathon was not broadcast as both SABC and SuperSport pulled out as a result of the shenanigans at the federation.
“We are concerned that disgruntled suspended members are trying to put the sport into disrepute and hold the race at ransom. CGA cannot allow that the race is governed by individuals other than beneficiary clubs of Soweto who are the rightful owners of the race (Soweto Marathon).
“The 2023 Soweto Marathon race is not cancelled and the working committee is in a process of submitting a detailed plan for hosting a successful 2023 Soweto Marathon race,” continued the media statement.
During interview with now suspended Khunou at the marathon last year (on the sidelines), he said “politics were hampering the progress of the marathon”.
Its unknown if a legal route would be effected, should one of Soweto’s sport signature event take place or not in November 2023?
At the end of the day sponsors would not associate their brands with all this mess!
Image SLM (Suspended official Sello Khunou says politics are at play hence the race must be scrapped for 2023).
